UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
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MAP    OF    KANSAS 

IN    EARLY    DAYS. 


F.   H.   BARRINGTON'S    KANSAS-DAY    BOOK. 


Smoky 


Great  B 


River 


N   E  IKR  A  S  K  A 


KANSAS  DAY. 


CONTAINING 


A    BRIEF    HISTORY    OF    KANSAS, 


COLLECTION   BY   KANSAS   AUTHORS, 


WITH   OTHER   MISCELLANEOUS   MATTER  PERTAINING   TO   KANSAS. 


By  F.  H.  BARRINGTON, 
PRINCIPAL  OF  SCHOOLS,  MCCRACKEN,  KANSAS. 


"Then  vie  should  gather,  I  think,  what  may  be  called  'home  books;'  books 
about  America;  about  the  United  States  of  America;  about  Kansas,  the  heart 
of  America;  books  written  by  Americans  about  America  —  about  Kansas.  .  . 
Gather  such  books  that  there  may  grow  in  young  hearts  that  passionate  at- 
tachment to  our  home  and  country  —  one's  own  visible  and  actual  country  " 

—  N.  L.  PRENTIS. 


TOPEKA,  KANSAS : 
GEO.  W.  CRANE  &  COMPANY. 

1892. 


Copyright,  1892,  by  F.  H.  BARRINGTON. 


DEDICATION. 


0TO  the  thousands  of  bright-eyed,  rosy-cheeked  boys  and 
girls  who  answer  to  roll-call  in  our  Kansas  schools,  and 
to  the  hundreds  of  devoted  Kansas  teachers  who  are 
training  these  boys  and  girls  to  a  true  conception  of 
American  citizenship  and  to  a  deeper  love  for  our  great 
State,  this  little  book  is  dedicated. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


THE  plan  of  this  little  book  grew  out  of  the  need  of 
such  a  work,  experienced  by  the  author  during  his  labors 
in  the  public  schools  of  Kansas.  For  several  years  the. 
•writer  has  been  gathering  scrap-book  collections  pertaining 
to  Kansas  lore,  and  has  successfully  used  them  in  general 
exercises,  and  in  celebrating  our  State's  birthday,  with  a 
view  to  familiarizing  pupils  with  a  few  leading  events  and 
principal  characters  connected  with  the  history  of  the 
State  —  a  history  containing  all  the  varying  shades,  from 
darkest  midnight  to  brightest  noonday. 

The  recent  increase  of  interest  among  Kansas  people 
upon  the  subject  of  government,  especially  that  of  our 
State,  is  a  hopeful  sign.  The  unparalleled  political  wave 
which  two  years  ago  swept  over  Kansas,  burying  from 
view  more  than  fourscore  thousand  of  the  dominant  party, 
demonstrated  as  never  before  the  power  and  majesty  of  a 
nineteenth  century  republic.  A  better  knowledge  of  our 
political  institutions  can  but  lead  to  better  citizenship ;  in 
short,  good  citizenship  is  impossible  unless  the  people  un- 
derstand the  government  under  which  they  live. 

So  closely  is  Kansas  history  interwoven  with  that  of  the 

(3) 


4  PREFACE. 

National  Government,  the  transition  from  one  to  the  other 
is  natural  and  easy ;  but  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  Kansas 
books  in  the  average  Kansas  home  and  in  the  schools,  the 
author  has  found  the  teaching  of  Kansas  History  a  labori- 
ous task,  though  a  pleasant  one.  In  this  little  work  the 
compiler  has  kept  in  view  the  fact  that  boys  and  girls  must 
be  led  —  must  be  interested  in  the  study  —  hence  the  plan  : 
A  brief  mention  of  the  leading  events  in  the  history  of  the 
State,  with  marginal  notes  for  reference  readings  contained 
in  the  body  of  the  work.  Many  of  these  have  been  se- 
lected to  add  interest  to  some  point  in  history,  or  for  the 
sentiment  or  facetia3  contained  rather  than  for  any  literary 
merit, they  possess. 

With  this  explanation  we  trust  litterateurs  will  "pass  onr 
imperfections  by  "  and  search  out  the  beauties  of  thought 
and  expression  contained  in  other  and  better  productions, 
with  which  we  think  many  of  these  pages  are  replete. 

Though  the  book  is  intended  especially  for  use  in  the 
public  schools,  the  writer  believes  that  it  will  find  a  wel- 
come nook  in  the  home  library  of  the  Kansas  girl  or  boy, 
and  that  even  older  heads  may  select  something  from 
within  these  covers  that  will  prove  entertaining  and  fur- 
nish some  food  for  thought. 

While  the  reader  is  studying  these  pages,  he  will  not 
only  learn  something  of  the  history  of  our  great  State,  but 
at  the  same  time  make  the  acquaintance  of  some  of  her 
best  writers. 

Hence  the  author  believes  that  many  of  these  selections 


PREFACE.  5 

could  be  successfully  used  for  supplementary  reading  in 
schools  and  institutes. 

But  little  of  originality  is  claimed  by  the  author  of  this 
work.  As  before  stated,  much  of  the  matter  herein  con- 
tained has  been  collected  from  scraps  and  notes,  made 
from  time  to  time  during  several  years  past,  and  for  this 
reason  quotation-marks  and  names  of  authors  may  be 
lacking  because  it  was  impossible  to  place  them  accurately. 

The  author  has  derived  much  assistance  from  Wilder's 
Annals,  and  the  Histories  of  Andreas,  Spring,  and  Robin- 
son; also  Frost's  Kansas  Collection,  and  Mrs.  Allerton's 
poems,  to  which  the  writer  has  had  free  forage. 

Special  thanks  are  due  the  officers  of  the  State  Histori- 
cal Society,  and  to  Miss  Hattie  Horner,  Mr.  T.  E.  Dewey, 
Mrs.  May  Belleville  Brown,  and  Honorable  B.  W.  Wood- 
ward, for  encouraging  words,  kind  criticism,  and  valua- 
ble suggestions. 

This  book  has  been  prepared  amid  the  many  cares  and 
duties  attendant  upon  the  principalship  of  a  village  school ; 
hence,  because  of  its  many  literary  imperfections,  we  ex- 
pect it  to  find  little  favor  with  the  ever-present  severe 
literary  critic,  but  we  hope  to  find  its  friends  among  the 
earnest  teachers  and  the  thoughtful  parents  who  value  the 
awakening  of  a  single  thought  leading  to  an  appreciation 
"Of  what  we  fought  to  build  in  bleeding  Kansas'  days." 

THE  AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I. 

KANSAS    HISTORY. 

CHAPTER  I.  —  EARLY  EXPLORERS  AND  EXPLORATIONS. 
Spanish — French — American, 15 

CHAPTER  II.— SLAVERY  AGITATION. 

Kansas  a  Highway — Missouri  Compromise  —  Omnibus  Bill  —  Kansas 
and  Nebraska  Bill, 22 

CHAPTER  III.— THE  CONTEST  IN  KANSAS. 
Moves  and   Couutermoves  —  Emigrant  Aid   Society — Blue  Lodges 
and  Law  -  and  -  Order  Societies  —  Governor  Reeder  —  First  Elec- 
tion— Second  Territorial  Election — First  Territorial  Legislature 

—  First  Free -State   Convention  —  October  Elections  —  Topeka 
Convention — Governors    Woodson     and     Shannon — Beecher 
Bibles  —  Climax  Reached, 25 

CHAPTER  IV.—  WAKARUSA  WAR. 

Rescue  of  Branson  —  Raid  on  Lawrence  —  Murder  of  Barber  —  Re- 
sults of  the  Wakarusa  War, 32 

CHAPTER  V. — PRO-SLAVERY  AND  FREE-STATE  DEPREDATIONS. 
Jones  Wounded  —  Territorial  Indictments  —  Second  Raid  on  Law- 
rence—  Other  Depredations — Free-State  Men  Retaliate,     ...      36 

CHAPTER  VI.— MORE  FIGHTING. 

1'ottawatomie  Massacre  —  Black  Jack  —  Dispersing  the  Invaders  — 
Kansas  Aid  Society  —  Agitations  in  the  South  —  Battle  of 
Franklin  —  Second  Battle  of  Franklin  —  Fort  Saunders  Captured 

—  Fort  Titus  —  Treaty  of  Peace  —  Governor  Shannon  Resigns  — 
Battle  of  Osawatomie  —  John  Brown  Monument  —  Sequel  to  the 
Battle  of  Osawatomie  —  Movement  Against  Lecompton,     ...      39 

(7) 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. —  GOVERNOR  GEARY'S  ADMINISTRATION. 
Geary's  Plans  —  Battle  of  Hickory  Point — Third  Attempt  to  Destroy 
Lawrence  —  First  Thanksgiving  Proclamation  —  Topeka  Legis- 
lature—  The  Territorial  Legislature, 46 

CHAPTER  VIII.— A  CHAPTER  IN  POLITICS. 
Acting  Governors  Woodson  and  Stan  ton  —  Governor  Walker — The 
Elections — The  Lecompton  Convention — Resignation  of  Walker 
and  Removal  of  Stanton  —  First  Free-State  Legislature — Vote 
on  the  Lecompton  Constitution — Vote  on  Constitution  and  State 
Officers  —  The  Disposal  of  the  Lecomptou  Constitution  —  Last 
of  the  Topeka  Legislature  —  Third  Territorial  Legislature  — 
More  Conventions  and  Constitutions, 50 

CHAPTER  IX.— WAR  IN  THE  SOUTHEAST. 

Cattle  of  Middle  Creek  —  Captain  Clarke's  Exploits  —  James  Mont- 
gomery—  Marais  des  Cygnes — John  Brown  again  in  Kansas  — 
John  Brown's  Famous  Parallels, 5G 

CHAPTER  X. — KANSAS  BECOMES  A  STATE. 
First  Republican  Party  in  Kansas  —  Governors  Denver,  Medary  — 
Kansas  Famine  1860  —  Kansas  Admitted  —  How  the  News  was 
Received  —  State  Seal  —  Origin  of  Name  and  Meaning  of  Motto,     60 

CHAPTER  XI. —  KANSAS  DURING  THE  CIVIL  WAB. 
Lawrence  Raid,  1863  —  Price  Raid  — Battles  of  Lexington,  Big  Blue, 

and  Westport  —  Pursuit  of  Price, 63 

CHAPTER  XII.—  INDIAN  WARS. 

Pawnees  and  Omahas — Cheyennes,  Arapahoes  and  Kiowas — Raid 
of  1868  —  General  Sulley's  Campaign  —  Nineteenth  Kansas  Cav- 
alry— Battle  of  the  Wachita  —  Close  of  the  War, 67 

CHAPTER  XIII.— IN  MEMORIAM. 
James  Montgomery  —  James  H.  Lane  —  John  Brown, 70 

CHAPTER  XIV.— PEACE. 

Kansas  State  Historical  Society  —  State  Reform  School  —  State  In- 
dustrial School  for  Girls  —  State  Normal  (frontispiece) — Kan- 
sas State  University  —  Railroads  —  Growth  in  Population  and 
Wealth  —  Agriculture  —  Churches  —  Public  Schools  —  Temper- 
ance,    74 


CONTENTS.  9 

• 

PART  II. 

A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

A  KANSAS  WISH, Charles  Moreau  Harger,  .  85 

A  KANSAS  COLLECTION, J.  W.  D.  Anderson,  ...  86 

Now  I  LAY  ME, Anonymous, 88 

KANSAS-DAY  SONG, Laura  E.  Newell,     ...  90 

THE  KANSAS  DUGOUT,      E.  F.  Ware, 91 

Mis'  SMITH, A.  B.  Paine, 92 

KANSAS  COURAGE,      C.  F.  Scott, 93 

•r   THE  GATES  AJAR, Albert  Bigelow  Paine,    .  95 

HICKORYE  CREEK  LOGIC, Helianthus  Annuus,     .    .  96 

LITTLE  THINGS, Mrs.  Allerton, 96 

JUDGE  BREWER  ON  KANSAS, '. 97 

PAWPAWS  RIPE, Sol.  Miller, 98 

^-KANSAS —  A  Recitation, Maggie  A.  Kilmer,   .    .    .  102 

SUNFLOWER  SONG, Anonymous, 103 

A  TRIBUTE  TO  JOHN  BROWN,     .   .    .   .  J.  G.  Waters,     105 

A  FARMER'S  WIFE, Ewiug  Herbert,     ....  105 

SING  A  SONG  OF  KANSAS, Emporia  Republican,   .   .  106 

KANSAS,     W.  F.  Craig, 107 

RESUBMISSION, Mrs.  Emma  P.  Seabury,  .  108 

JOHN  BROWN'S  LAST  SPEECH, Ill 

DON'T  You  TELL, Mrs.  Allerton, 112 

THE  SOD  SCHOOL-HOUSE  (Illustrated),    C.  M.  Harger, 113 

THE  WORLD  A  SCHOOL, Noble  L.  Prentis,      ...  114 

JOHN  BROWN, Eugene  F.  Ware,  ....  lie 

f  THE  COYOTE, Jas.  W.  Steele, 118 

•  QUIVERA  —  KANSAS, Eugene  Ware, 120 

^THE  TRAIL  OF  '49,     Mrs.  Allerton, 122 

To  KANSAS, A.  G.  Canfield, 124 

GOD  SAVE  OUR  TOWN,      N.  L.  Prentis 126 

KANSAS  —  For  a  Picture, Florence  L.  Snow,    .    .    .  127 

THE  STATE  REFORM  SCHOOI W.  E.  Fasan, 128 

/    KANSAS  —  Retrospective, Geo.  A.  Root, 130 

DEATH  OF  THE  SPANISH  THREE  HUN- 
DRED,  John  Madden, 132 

ORIGINAL  PACKAGE, Emma  P.  Seabury,   ...  134 

THE  WHISTLING  ENGINEER, J.  M.  Cavaness,     ....  135 


10  CONTENTS. 

JOHN  BROWN'S  PARALLELS,    .....  John  Brown,      136 

THE  CYCLONE  OF  MAY  27,  1892,   .    .    .  T.  S.  Brown,      138 

TTE  OLD  SOD  SHANTY  ON  THE  CLAIM 

(Illustrated), Anonymous, 140 

THE  WILD  SUNFLOWER, Albert  Bigelow  Paine,    .  142 

How  WE  TOOK  TITUS, B.  W.  Woodward,      ...  143 

A  DREAM  OF  THE  SEA, A.  B.  Paine, 147 

^A  BORDER  MEMORY, Florence  L.  Snow,    .    .   .  148 

y  KANSAS  WEATHER, C.  S.  White, 152 

THE  FIELDS  OF  KANSAS,     Ellen  P.  Allerton,     .   .   .  153 

V  WHEN  THE  SUNFLOWERS  BLOOM,      .    .  A.  B.  Paine, 155 

A  MOUNTAIN  INCIDENT, Mrs.  S.  N.  Wood,  ....  156 

GOVERNOR  FEEDER'S  SPEECH,    .    .    .    .  A.  H.  Reeder, 158 

THE  KANSAS  INDIAN'S  LAMENT,  .    .    .  Thomas  Brower  Peacock,  160 

LAWRENCE  RAID, Ellen  Patton, 162 

GOLDEN  ROD  IN  KANSAS, Ad  H.  Gibson, 163 

To  A  KANSAS  REDBIRD, Ad  H.  Gibson, 164 

'WALLS  OF  CORN,     Mrs.  Allerton, 165 

BEAUTIFUL  THINGS, Mrs.  Allerton, 167 

IN  THE  EAR,  OR  IN  THE  JUG.     ....  John  P.  St.  John,     .   .   .  168 

BLEEDING  KANSAS  DAYS, Carl  Brann, 171 

TAKE  HEART, Ad  H.  Gibson, 173 

THE  MODEL  OLD  COUPLE, Sol.  Miller,     174 

A  CHURCH  BELL  OF  MANHATTAN,   .    .  Ida  A.  Ahlboru,    ....  176 

THE  REUNION  AT  WIDDY  MACIIKEE'S,  .  Maggie  MacKilmer,      .    .  177 

KANSAS,     A.  A.  B.  Cavauess,  .   .   .  179 

JAMES  MONTGOMERY, Joel  Moody,    ......  181 

SELECTIONS  FROM  Two  PICTURES,     .    .  J.  Lee  Knight, 181 

JULY  FOURTH, A.  A.  B.  Cavaness,   .    .   .  183 

i-    THE  INTERREGNUM, Will  A.  White,      ....  184 

THE  ATHENA  OF  AMERICAN  STATES,  .  John  A.  Martin.    ....  187 

OPPORTUNITY, John  J.  Ingalls,     ....  188 

KANSAS,  1874-1884, Hattie  Homer, 188 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  FLAG,     Edward  T.  Barber,  ...  191 

EARLY  REMINISCENCES, Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Pinkstou,  .  194 

KANSAS — A  SONG,      Mary  Ray  Mclntire,    .   .  196 

KANSAS;  ITS  PAST,  PRESENT,  AND  FU- 
TURE,   Laura  E.  Newell,     .   .   .  198 

THE  NATAL  HOUR, Joel  Moody, 199 

THE  HOME, Joel  Moody, 200 

AD  ASTRA  PER  ASPERA, Laura  E.  Newell,  ....  201 


CONTENTS.  H 

KANSAS,      Anonymous, 202 

THE  OLD  SOLDIER,     Geo.  R.  Peck, 203 

""  THE  SUNFLOWERS  OF  KANSAS,  ....  Anonymous, 204 

V  THE   REPORTER  AND  THE  TRAVELING 

MAN, Troy  Chief, 204 

THE  HOMES  OF  KANSAS, Sol.  Miller,     206 

SOL.  MILLER  AS  A  POET,      Ewing  Herbert,     ....  208 

THE  TEACHER, B.  W.  Allsworth,  ....  209 

ON  THE  FARM, Mrsi  Allerton, 210 

ONLY  A  NEGRO, Carl  Brann, 212 

TELL  ME,  YE  KANSAS  WINDS J.  M.  Cavaness,     ....  214 

Do  N'T  WAKEN  THE  BABY, Mrs.  S.  N.  Wood,     .   .   .  215 

MY  AMBITION, Mrs.  Allerton, 216 

CHILDHOOD, Ironquill, 217 

PILGRIM  BARD, Scott  Cummins,     ....  218 

TO-DAY Ironquill, .  218 

"OLD  JIM," F.  H.  B., 219 

QUOTATIONS, 226 

KANSAS  SYMPOSIUM, 229 


PART  III. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

KANSAS,     National  Tribuue,    .   .   .  239 

LE  MARAIS  DU  CYGNK,     Whittier, 240 

THE  BURIAL  OF  BARBER, Whittier,     . 242 

THE  KANSAS  EMIGRANT'S  SONG,  .    .   .  Whittier 243 

K  T  DID, '. Vanity  Fair, 245 

PROPHETIC  WORDS  OF  SUMNER,     .    .    .  Chas.  Sumner, 346 

WORDS   OF  WILKES,  OF   SOUTH   CARO- 
LINA,     Warren  Wilkes,     ....  247 

EMERSON  ON  KANSAS, R.  W.  Emerson 247 

ORIGINAL  JOHN  BROWN  SONG,  ....  Anonymous, 248 

A  CALL  TO  KANSAS,      Lucy  Larcom, 249 

POETIC  DESCRIPTION  OF  KANSAS,     .   .  H.  W.  Longfellow,   ...  252 


PART  I. 

KANSAS    HISTORY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  EXPLORERS  AND  EXPLORATIONS. 

SPANISH  EXPLORATIONS. — The  first  clear  and  authentic 
account  of  the  territory  now  included  in  Kansas  is  that  of 
the  Spaniard  Francisco  Vasquez  de  Coronado,  a  com- 
panion of  Cortez,  the  conqueror  of  Mexico.  Rumors  of 
the  country  of  Quivera*  were  probably  first  set  afloat  by 
one  Cabeza  de  Vaca,  a  member  of  the  ill-fated  Narvez 
expedition.  De  Vaca  and  three  others,  after  a  six-years 
imprisonment  on  an  island  near  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, made  their  escape  in  September,  1534,  and  passing 
through  northern  Alabama,  turned  westward,  "crossed  the 
river  from  the  north,"  (the  Mississippi,)  and  after  eighteen 
months  of  weary  toil,  dangers,  and  privations,  arrived  at 
a  Spanish  settlement  in  Mexico.  The  Spaniards,  whose 
greedy  ears  were  ever  ready  to  credit  the  most  visionary 
stories,  received  with  wonder  and  enthusiasm  the  tales  of 
De  Vaca  and  his  companions,  of  wonderful  cities,  whose 
inhabitants  lived  in  seven-story  buildings,  dined  from 
dishes  of  solid  gold,  and  were  awakened  from  sleep  by 
the  chime  of  golden  bells,  which  hung  from  the  branches 
of  the  trees. 

Coronado  sent  out  from  Mexico  two  expeditions  to  ex- 
plore and  subjugate  portions  of  this  fabulous  country.  A 
leader  of  one  of  these  expeditions  brought  to  Corouado  an 
Indian  called  "II  Turco"  (The  Turk),  who,  fearful  that 

»  "  Qnivera,"  Part  2.  ( 15  ) 


16  KANSAS   HISTORY. 

the  invaders  would  lay  waste  the  whole  country,  and  mur- 
der and  enslave  his  people,  determined  to  play  upon  the 
avarice  of  the  Spaniards  by  enlarging  upon  the  reports 
already  in  circulation,  and  lead  them  into  a  far-off  desert, 
where  he  hoped  the  horses,  which  they  so  much  feared, 
would  die  of  thirst  and  heat,  arid  without  which  the  Span- 
iards would  be  unable  to  return  and  do  them  harm.  The 
Turk  described  his  home,  Quivera,  as  lying  many  miles  to 
the  north,  with  its  river  seven  miles  wide,  in  which  swam 
fishes  as  large  as  horses. 

Coronado  started  from  the  Kio  Grande  May  5th,  1541, 
with  three  hundred  followers,  mostly  Spanish  noblemen, 
and  entered  the  mighty  plains  and  sandy  heaths  of  New 
Mexico  and  Kansas. 

Here  we  note  the  first  account  of  the  Indians  of  the 
plains,  who  depended  entirely  on  the  chase  for  sustenance, 
and  of  the  cibola  (bison),  great  crooked-back  cattle,  "foul 
and  fierce  beasts  of  countenance  and  form  of  body."  In 
thirty-seven  days  they  arrived  at  the  Arkansas  river.  Here, 
against  the  protestations  of  his  soldiers,  because  of  scarcity 
of  provisions  and  the  hopelessness  of  the  outlook,  Coro- 
nado with  thirty  soldiers,  mostly  mounted,  and  a  few  ad- 
ditional Indians,  determined  to  push  his  search  to  the 
northward  in  search  of  Quivera,  the  main  part  of  the  com- 
mand returning  to  their  camp  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

Coronado's  exact  route  through  Kansas  is  mainly  con- 
jecture. He  doubtless  passed  through  that  portion  of  the 
State  now  comprising  Barber,  Kingmau,  Reno,  Harvey, 
McPherson,  Marion,  Dickinson,  Davis,  Riley,  Pottawat- 
omie,  and  Nemaha  counties. 

Historians  locate  Quivera  between  the  Platte  and  Kan- 
sas rivers,  and  between  longitude  95  and  98. 


EARLY  EXPLORERS  AND  EXPLORATIONS.  17 

Coronado,  in  his  description  of  Qnivera,  writes,  in  sub- 
stance, that  he  reached  the  40th  parallel,  3,200  miles  from 
Mexico,  and  that  the  soil  is  black,  and  is  adapted  to  the 
productions  of  Spain,  including  all  kinds  of  fruits.  The 
surface  is  described  as  being  free  from  mountains,  there 
being  some  hills  and  plains,  interspersed  with  large  and 
small  streams  of  water. 

This  first  exploration  of  Kansas  achieved  nothing  of  im- 
portance. Well-nigh  two  hundred  years  elapse  before  the 
European  again  turns  his  attention  to  this  land. 

The  false  II  Turco  —  false  to  his  enemies,  that  he  might 
be  faithful  to  his  people  —  acknowledged  his  deception, 
and  was  summarily  put  to  death. 

"In  1721  a  colony  of  300  people  left  Santa  Fe  to  plant 
a  Spanish  outpost  in  Kansas.  The  company  was  com- 
posed of  men  with  their  families  and  stock,  and  was  in 
charge  of  a  friar  of  the  order  of  St.  Dominic,  whose  holy 
mission  was  to  Christianize  the  savages.  Every  man, 
woman  and  child  was  massacred  by  the  inhuman  barbari- 
ans of  the  plains."* 

FRENCH  EXPLORATIONS. — Kansas  was  originally  a  part  of 
the  Louisiana  Purchase.  It  extended  from  Missouri  west- 
ward to  the  top  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  northward 
from  the  37th  to  the  40th  parallel,  covering  an  area  of 
more  than  125,000  square  miles. 

In  1719  M.  du  Tissenet  —  sometimes  written  Dutisne  or 
Duquesne  —  under  the  orders  of  the  governor  of  Louisiana, 
explored  Kansas  westward  to  the  head-waters  of  the  Smoky 
Hill.  On  the  27th  of  September,  in  what  is  now  western 
Kansas,  he  erected  a  cross,  thus  claiming  the  territory  in 
the  name  of  France. 

*"  Death  of  the  Spanish  Three  Hundred,"  Part  3. 


18  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

M.  du  Tissenet  was  the  first  to  mention  the  abundance 
of  salt,  and  the  first  to  give  definite  information  of  Indian 
tribes. 

In  1722-23  the  French  erected  a  fort  near  the  junction 
of  the  Osage  with  the  Missouri  river,  called  Fort  Orleans. 
The  commander,  Du  Bourgmont,  during  succeeding  years, 
made  extended  tours  into  Kansas,  made  friends  with  the 
Indians,  which  however  was  of  short  duration,  for  in  1725 
the  Kansas  aborigines  captured  the  fort  and  massacred 
the  garrison —  not  one  escaping  to  tell  how  it  was  accom- 
plished. 

This  ended  the  attempts  of  the  French  to  occupy  this 
territory.  Its  history  is  shrouded  in  obscurity  till,  in  1803, 
it  was  again  brought  into  prominence  through  the  purchase 
from  Napoleon,  of  France,  by  the  United  States,  "that 
vast  territory  vaguely  described  as  the  country  drained  by 
the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries." 

AMERICAN  EXPLORATIONS. — Lewis  and  Clark. — In  1804— 
1806,  Lewis  and  Clark  crossed  to  the  Pacific  ocean  and 
returned,  bringing  to  light  the  first  definite  knowledge  of 
the  topography  of  the  country,  its  resources  and  climate. 

Captain  Pike's  Expedition.  —  In  1806,  Captain  Pike, 
with  a  small  army  of  23  white  men  and  50  Indians,  started 
from  near  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri,  following  it  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Osage  river,  thence  up  the  Osage  to  its 
source,  crossing  the  head  of  the  Neosho,  thence  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Saline. 

Mr.  Pike  says:  "On  our  march  we  were  continually 
passing  through  large  herds  of  buffaloes,  elk,  and  cabrie, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  but  one  hunter  could  support  two 
hundred  men." 

Captain  Pike  then  turned  to  the  southward,  after  visit- 


EARL  y  EX  PL  ORERS  AND  EX  PL  OR  A  T1ONS.  \  9 

ing  various  heads  of  Indian  tribes.  Reaching  the  Arkan- 
sas river,-  he  divided  his  force,  sending  a  party  by  boat 
down  the  river,  while  he,  taking  the  remaining  force, 
started  on  his  march  westward.  On  November  14th  he 
discovered  the  peak  which  bears  his  name.  After  march- 
ing eight  days,  he  concluded  to  camp  his  men  and  with 
only  three  companions  visit,  and  if  practicable  ascend,  the 
"blue  mountain."  They  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountain 
on  the  evening  of  the  second  day.  The  account  of  the 
ascent  of  Pike's  Peak  we  give  in  his  own  words : 

"  Wednesday,  %6th  November. — Expecting  to  return  to 
our  camp  that  evening,  we  left  all  our  blankets  and  pro- 
visions at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  ;  killed  a  deer  of  a  new 
species,  and  hung  his  skin  on  a  tree,  with  some  meat.  We 
commenced  ascending;  found  the  way  very  difficult,  being 
obliged  to  climb  up  rocks  sometimes  almost  perpendicular ; 
and  after  marching  all  day  we  encamped  in  a  cave,  with- 
out blankets,  victuals,  or  water.  We  had  a  fine,  clear  sky, 
whilst  it  was  snowing  at  the  bottom.  On  the  side  of  the 
mountain  we  found  only  yellow  and  pitch  pine ;  some  dis- 
tance up  we  saw  buffalo ;  and  higher  still,  the  new  species 
of  deer,  and  pheasants. 

"Thursday,  27th  November. — Arose  hungry,  thirsty,  and 
extremely  sore,  from  the  unevenness  of  the  rocks  on  which 
we  had  lain  all  night ;  but  were  amply  compensated  for 
our  toil  by  the  sublimity  of  the  prospects  below.  The  un- 
bounded prairie  was  overhung  with  clouds,  which  appeared 
like  the  ocean  in  a  storm,  wave  piled  on  wave,  and  foam- 
ing, whilst  the  sky  over  our  heads  was  perfectly  clear. 
Commenced  our  march  up  the  mountain,  and  in  about  one 
hour  arrived  at  the  'summit  of  this  chain  ;  here  we  found 
the  snow  middle  deep,  and  discovered  no  sign  of  beast  or 


20  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

bird  inhabiting  this  region.  The  thermometer,  which  stood 
at  nine  degrees  above  zero  at  the  foot  of  the  'mountain, 
here  fell  to  four  degrees  below.  The  summit  of  the  Grand 
Peak,  which  was  entirely  bare  of  vegetation,  and  covered 
with  snow,  now  appeared  at  a  distance  of  fifteen  or  six- 
teen miles  from  us,  and  as  high  again  as  that  we  had  as- 
cended. It  would  have  taken  a  whole  day's  march  to  have 
arrived  at  its  base,  while  I  believe  no  human  being  could 
have  ascended  to  its  summit.  This,  with  the  condition  of 
my  soldiers,  who  had  only  light  overalls  on,  and  no  stock- 
ings, and  were  every  way  ill  provided  to  endure  the  inclem- 
ency of  this  region,  the  bad  prospects  of  killing  anything 
to  subsist  on,  with  the  further  detention  of  two  or  three  days 
which  it  must  occasion,  determined  us  to  return.  The 
clouds  from  below  had  now  ascended  the  mountain  and  en- 
tirely enveloped  the  summit,  on  which  rest  eternal  snows. 
We  descended  by  a  long,  deep  ravine,  with  much  less  diffi- 
culty than  we  had  contemplated.  Found  all  our  baggage 
safe,  but  the  provisions  all  destroyed.  It  began  to  snow, 
and  we  sought  shelter  under  the  side  of  a  projecting  rock, 
where  we  all  four  made  a  meal  on  one  partridge  and  a 
pair  of  deer's  ribs,  which  the  ravens  had  left  us,  being  the 
first  food  we  had  eaten  for  forty-eight  hours."  [Andreas' 
History.'} 

Captain  Pike,  in  giving  his  impression  of  the  country, 
says:  "On  the  rivers,  Kansas,  La  Platte,  Arkansas  and 
their  tributaries,  it  appears  to  me  to  be  only  possible  to  in- 
troduce a  limited  population.  The  wood  would  not  be 
sufficient  for  a 'moderate  population  more  than  fifteen  years. 
The  borders  of  the  Arkansas  may  be. termed  the  paradise 
terrestrial  of  our  territories  for  the  wandering  savages.  I 
believe  that  here  are  buffalo,  elk  and  deer  sufficient,  if  used 


EARL  Y  EX  PL  ORERS  AND  EXPL  OR  A  TIONS.  2 1 

without  waste,  to  feed  all  the  savages  of  the  United  States 
territory  for  one  century."- 

Within  the  limits  described  by  Captain  Pike  there  now 
exist  (1892)  nearly  three  million  inhabitants.  The  sav- 
ages, the  elk,  deer,  and  buffalo,  have  departed  ;  while  the 
golden  wheat-fields  and  the  rustling  leaves  of  corn  attest 
the  prosperity  of  the  people. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  Captain  Pike's  evident  failure  as 
a  prophet,  it  by  no  means  detracts  from  the  accurate  and 
valuable  information  gained  by  his  travels,  and  which  he 
so  graphically  imparted  to  posterity. 


CHAPTEE  II. 

SLAVERY  AGITATIONS. 

KANSAS  A  HIGHWAY.  —  "With  the  establishment  of 
American  occupancy  an  era  of  migration  set  in  through 
Kansas  toward  the  Pacific  slope  —  a  migration  at  first 
slender,  capricious,  and  without  system,  but  acquiring 
ultimately  volume,  method  and  persistence  sufficient  to 
imprint  clear-cut  trails  sheer  across  the  mighty  plains.* 
Traders,  eager  to  seize  upon  new  and  inviting  avenues  of 
commerce;  travelers,  ambitious  to  compel  the  half -un- 
known world  beyond  the  Missouri  to  yield  up  its  secrets ; 
Kearny's  soldiers,  with  greedy  eyes  fixed  on  New  Mexico  ; 
Mormons,  fleeing  into  the  wilderness  before  the  wrath  of 
civilization ;  gold-hunters,  aflame  with  visions  of  sudden 
wealth  among  the  mines  of  California; — such  was  the 
heterogeneous,  intermittent  mob  that  trooped  across  Kan- 
sas during  the  years  immediately  preceding  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  legislation."  [Spring.'] 

THE  MISSOURI  COMPROMISE. — Ever  since  the  formation 
of  the  Federal  constitution  the  question  of  slavery  had 
been  agitated  in  Congress.  When  the  bill  for  the  admis- 
sion of  Missouri  came  before  Congress,  a  memorable  dis- 
cussion arose,  lengthy  and  violent.  Northern  members 
opposed  the  extension  of  slavery  on  moral  and  political 
grounds.  The  Southern  members,  having  great  interests 
invested  in  slave  labor,  and  advocating  the  doctrine  of 

*"The  Trail  of  '49, "  Part  2. 

(22) 


SLAVERY  AGITATIONS.  23 

"State  rights,"  denied  the  right  of  the  General  Govern- 
ment, under  the  constitution,  to  interfere  with  affairs  of 
the  several  States,  holding  that  the  people  of  a  State 
should  decide  whether  slavery  should  or  should  not  exist 
within  her  borders. 

At  this  juncture  — 1820  —  Southern  champions  intro- 
duced the  bill  known  as  the  Missouri  Compromise,  which 
provided  that  Missouri  should  be  admitted  as  a  slave  State, 
and  that  thereafter  slavery  should  forever  be  prohibited 
north  of  36°  30'.  The  territory  south  of  that  line  was  to 
be  opened  to  slavery  or  freedom,  as  the  people  should 
choose. 

THE  OMNIBUS  BILL. — The  momentous  question  of  slavery 
was  destined  to  again  become  the  bone  of  contention  in 
American  politics.  The  question  of  the  admission  of  Cal- 
ifornia, and  other  subjects  either  directly  or  indirectly 
related  to  slavery,  for  months  agitated  Congress  and  the 
people  at  large,  till  there  were  grave  fears  of  the  disruption 
of  the  Union. 

At  length,  in  January,  1850,  Henry  Clay  comes  to  the 
front  with  his  compromise  measure  —  the  omnibus  bill, 
which  was  the  means  by  which  a  final  general  conflict  be- 
tween the  North  and  South  was  postponed  ten  years.  By 
this  compromise  California  was  admitted  as  a  free  State. 
The  boundary-line  between  Texas  and  New  Mexico  was  set- 
tled ;  Utah  and  New  Mexico  were  organized  as  Territories 
without  the  question  of  slavery.  Slavery  was  abolished 
in  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  the  fugitive  slave  law 
was  passed,  providing  for  the  capture  and  delivery  of  run- 
away slaves  who  had  escaped  from  the  South  to  the  North. 

THE  KANSAS  AND  NEBRASKA  BILL. — The  legislative  event 


24:  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

of  Pierce's  administration  was  the  passage  of  the  Kansas 
and  Nebraska  bill. 

In  1853  the  massive  brain  of  that  orator  and  statesman, 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  evolved  the  question  —  or  mistake, 
if  you  please  —  which  quenched  the  star  of  his  political 
destiny,  and  deluged  the  Territory  of  Kansas  in  blood. 
This  measure  left  the  question  whether  slavery  should  or 
should  not  exist  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  to  the  settlers  of 
the  soil. 

"One  volume  in  the  Kansas  Historical  Society's  library 
contains  eighty  speeches*  on  this  bill  by  eighty  different 
members  at  one  session,  including  six  messages  from  the 
President.  The  exciting  debate  lasted  four  months.  At 
one  time  Congress  had  a  two-months  contest  for  Speaker, 
in  which  over  a  hundred  ballots  were  taken.  Both  parties 
looked  upon  Kansas  with  absorbing  interest.f  President 
Pierce  signed  the  bill  in  1854." 

*  "Prophetic  Words  of  Sumner,"  Part  3. 

t  "  Words  of  Warren  Wilkes,  of  South  Carolina,"  Part  3. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  CONTEST  IN  KANSAS. 

MOVES  AND  COUNTER-MOVES. —  The  steps  to  make  Kan- 
sas a  State  were :  to  elect  a  Territorial  Legislature,  which 
might  arrange  a  constitutional  convention  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution for  or  against  slavery.  Votes,  then,  were  the 
prerequisite  consideration.  People  flocked  in  from  the 
Southern  States  to  carry  the  election. 

Missouri,  with  her  slaves  worth  thirty  millions  of  dollars, 
took  an  active  part,  to  the  end  that  slavery  might  be  per- 
petuated in  the  sister  republic.  Hundreds  pushed  across 
the  border  and  seized  upon  the  best  lands  by  simply  mark- 
ing their  claim  upon  trees  or  laying  a  foundation  consist- 
ing of  four  logs  or  rails. 

The  pro-slavery  towns  of  Kickapoo,  Atchison  —  named 
in  honor  of  Senator  Atchison,  of  Missouri,  a  prominent 
pro-slavery  leader  in  Kansas  —  Leaven  worth,  on  the  Mis- 
souri, and  the  historic  town,  Lecompton,  the  political  head- 
quarters of  the  Pro-Slavery  party,  sprang  up. 

Those  who  opposed  the  extension  of  slavery  formed 
immigration  societies  throughout  the  North,  furnishing  free 
transportation  to  those  who  were  willing  to  throw  their 
votes  and  their  lives  into  the  balance.  Civil  war  was  in- 
evitable, and  it  came  in  some  of  its  worst  aspects.  Vol- 
umes might  be  filled  with  reminiscences  of  that  terrible 
conflict.  The  stories  of  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  human 
beings,  of  homes  made  desolate,  of  hair-breadth  escapes,  of 

(25) 


26  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

deeds  of  daring,  patriotism,  and  personal  sacrifice,  find  no 
parallel  in  the  history  of  any  other  State  in  the  Union.* 

THE  EMIGRANT  Am  SOCIETY. — This  society,  having  for 
its  object  the  settlement  of  Kansas  by  Free-State  men, 
owed  largely  its  origin  and  success  to  Eli  Thayer,  of  Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts,  who  preached  the  tireless  gospel  of 
organized  emigration  f  with  tireless  and  successful  enthusi- 
asm, while  Amos  A.  Lawrence  discharged  the  burdensome 
but  all-important  duties  of  treasurer.  John  Carter  Brown, 
of  Rhode  Island,  was  chosen  president,  and  with  these  offi- 
cers and  twenty  directors,  more  than  fourteen  thousand 
souls  were  enabled  to  reach  Kansas  over  the  route  of  the 
Emigrant  Aid  Society.^  One  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars  was  collected  and  disbursed  —  a  sum  in  itself 
small,  but  large  in  that  many  other  organizations  in  the 
North  were  encouraged  to  follow  this  feasible  plan  of 
dealing  with  a  grave  political  problem. 

The  man  of  all  others  in  Kansas  who  possessed  the  con- 
fidence of  the  Emigrant  Aid  Society  was  Dr.  Charles 
Robinson.  He  had,  in  1849,  crossed  the  Territory  of 
Kansas  on  a  trip  overland  to  California,  and  had  noted  its 
many  advantages.  His  name  is  closely  interwoven  with 
the  history  of  his  State. 

In  August,  1854,  C.  H.  Branscomb  conducted  the  first 
party,  twenty-nine  in  number,  to  the  present  site  of  Law- 
rence—  so  named  in  honor  of  the  treasurer  of  the  associa- 
tion. 

Wabaunsee,  Osawatomie,  Manl  attan,§  Topeka,  and  other 
anti-slavery  towns  were  planted. 

*  "  Bleeding  Kansas  Days,"  Part  2. 

t  "A  Call  to  Kansas."  Part  3. 

%  "The  Kansas  Emigrant's  Song."  Part  3. 

$  "  A  Church-Bell  of  Manhattan,"  Part  3, 


THE    CONTEST  IN  KANSAS.  27 

It  must  not  be  understood  that  organized  emigration 
alone  took  part  in  the  great  movement  to  make  Kansas  a 
free  State.  Settlers  had  preceded  the  first  colony  to  the 
vicinity  of  Lawrence.  The  most  noted  of  these  perhaps, 
were  S.  N.  Wood,  Josiah  Miller,  J.  A.  Wakefield,  and 
others,*  who  took  an  active  part  in  the  great  contest. 
•  BLUE  LODGES  AND  "  LAW-AND-ORDER  "  SOCIETIES. —  Secret 
societies  under  the  above  names  were  organized  in  1854, 
promising  protection  to  every  one  except  abolitionists ; 
—  an  "abolitionist"  was  defined  as  being  anyone  from 
north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line. 

GOVERNOR  REEDER. —  Andrew  H.  Reeder,  the  first  Gov- 
ernor of  Kansas  Territory,  arrived  on  Kansas  soil  in 
October,  1854.  It  is  said  that  his  pledge  —  referring  to 
the  spirit  of  violence  in  the  Territory — "I  will  crush  it  out 
or  sacrifice  myself  in  the  effort,"  failed  to  elicit  applause 
from  the  rank  pro-slavery  element  to  whom  it  was  ad- 
dressed. 

FIRST  ELECTION. —  Little  interest  was  taken  by  actual 
settlers  in  the  election  of  a  Delegate  to  Congress  on  No- 
vember 29,  1854;  yet  the  Missourians,  more  than  1700 
strong,  distributing  themselves  throughout  the  different 
election  districts,  cast  their  ballots  for  J.  W.  Whitfield. 

SECOND  TERRITORIAL  ELECTION. —  Both  parties  realized 
the  importance  of  securing  the  Legislature  which  was  to 
be  chosen  on  the  30th  of  March,  1855.  Pro-slavery  ora- 
tors were  abroad  denouncing  "  abolitionists  "  in  no  delicate 
terms.  Those  residents  in  Missouri  who  could  not  per- 
sonally supervise  the  election  in  Kansas  furnished  money 
arms,  and  ammunition.  The  Missourians  appeared  at  the 

*"  Early  Reminiscences,"  Part  2. 


28  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

several  voting-places  in  wagons  and  on  horseback,  armed 
with  guns,  pistols,  and  knives. 

At  some  points  they  compelled  the  election  judges  to 
resign.  The  Missouri  hordes  and  their  allies  swept  all  be- 
fore them.  According  to  the  census  taken  by  the  authori- 
ties in  February,  there  were  4,908  illegal  votes  cast.  The 
facts  of  the  invasion  were  known  in  the  Territory  immedi- 
ately after  the  election,  and  the  newspapers  soon  published 
them  to  the  world.  The  Pro-Slavery  party  boasted  of  their 
achievement  in  electing  a  pro-slavery  Legislature.  The 
Free-State  men  of  Kansas  were  of  course  indignant. 

Andreas,  page  97,  quotes  the  New  York  Tribune  to 
show  the  sentiment  of  the  press : 

"The  great  battle  between  Freedom  and  Slavery  is 
gradually  approaching;  yet  the  country  is  everywhere 
quiet,  and  the  public  tranquility  is  undisturbed.  Not  even 
the  distant  rumble  of  the  tempest  is  heard.  The  little 
cloud  that  denotes  it  hovers  only  over  a  handful  of  people 
in  the  far  West.  In  Kansas  alone  exists  the  speck  that 
foreshadows  the  coming  storm.  Kansas  has  been  invaded 
by  slavery.  It  is  threatened  with  the  unending  curses  of 
that  institution.  A  country  large  enough  for  a  kingdom 
is  here  to  be  wrested  from  the  possession  of  the  free  States 
and  blackened  with  African  bondage.  .  .  .  The  free 
Territories  of  this  Union  are  the  possessions  it  covets,  and 
it  has  marshaled  its  forces  and  armed  its  mercenary  hosts 
to  conquer  them.  The  battle  is  begun." 

FIRST  TERRITORIAL  LEGISLATURE. — This  body  assembled 
at  Pawnee,  July  2,  1855,  and  in  four  days  it  adjourned  to 
meet  again  at  Shawnee  Mission,  Johnson  county,  in  eastern 
Kansas,  near  the  Missouri  line,  without  consulting  Gov- 
ernor Keeder,  who  now  took  this  ground  as  a  reason  for 


THE   CONTEST  Iff  KANSAS.  29 

repudiating  the  Legislature.  The  laws  enacted  were  copied 
from  the  slave  statutes  of  Missouri.  The  Free-State  men 
realized  that  the  Legislature  would  be  supported  by  the 
General  Government  and  the  Territorial  judiciary. 

FIRST  FREE-STATE  CONVENTION. — The  first  Free-State  dele- 
gate convention  met  at  Big  Springs,  Douglas  county,  though 
previous  to  this  there  had  been  two  Free-State  gatherings  at 
Lawrence.  These,  however,  looked  more  to  the  enuncia- 
tion of  principles  than  to  immediate  action,  and  simply 
opened  the  way  for  more  efficient  work  at  the  delegate 
convention  at  Big  Springs.  This  convention  recommended 
the  framing  of  a  constitution  and  the  formation  of  a  State 
government;  and  for  member  of  Congress  nominated 
Governor  Reeder,  who  had  been  removed  from  office. 
Mr.  Reeder  responded  in  a  ringing  speech.*  "The  work 
of  the  convention  closed  in  an  enthusiastic  furor  of  cheers, 
handshakings,  swearing,  and  tears."  At  the  first  meeting 
at  Lawrence,  James  H.  Lane,  one  of  the  great  leaders  of 
the  Free-State  party,  made  his  first  Free-State  speech. 

OCTOBER  ELECTIONS. —  On  October  1st  the  Pro-Slavery 
party  elected  J.  W.  Whitfield.  Out  of  the  2,721  votes  cast, 
only  17  were  scattering.  On  October  9th  Reeder  received 
all  the  Free-State  votes  polled,  viz.,  2,849.  Reeder  unsuc- 
cessfully contested  the  election.  Whitfield  was  declared 
elected. 

TOPEKA  CONVENTION. — The  constitutional  convention,  held 
at  Topeka,  October  23d,  lasted  eighteen  days.  It  framed 
a  constitution  containing  the  following  salient  features : 
Adopting  the  boundaries  of  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
bill;  located  the  capital  at  Topeka;  and  prohibited  slav- 

*  Speech  of  Andrew  H.  Reeder,  Part  2. 


30  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

ery  after  July  4th,  1857.  The  election  took  place  in  Jan- 
uary, at  which  Charles  Robinson  was  chosen  Governor. 
Perhaps  the  most  effective  organization  which  carried  the 
Kansas  Free-State  party  through  the  most  critical  part  of 
its  existence  was  the  Executive  Committee,  at  whose  head 
as  chairman  was  Jas.  H.  Lane.  It  derived  its  existence 
from  a  primary  convention  held  at  Topeka  September 
19th. 

GOVERNORS  WOODSON  AND  SHANNON. — After  the  removal 
of  Governor  Reeder,  July  28,  1855,  Daniel  Woodson  was 
acting  Governor  of  Kansas  during  the  remainder  of  the 
session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature.  Honorable  Wilson 
Shannon,  having  accepted  a  commission  as  Governor 
of  Kansas  Territory,  arrived  at  Shawnee  September  3d. 
"He  affirmed  the  legality  of  the  Pawnee  Legislature,  and 
avowed  himself  as  in  favor  of  slavet'y  in  Kansas" 

"BEECHER'S  BIBLES." — After  the  signal  victory  in  the 
Territorial  election  the  Pro-Slavery  party  became  more  and 
more  intolerant  and  aggressive.  An  appeal  for  arms  was 
made  by  the  citizens  of  Lawrence.  In  May,  1855,  cases 
marked  "books"  were  received,  containing  100  Sharps 
rifles,  nicknamed  "  Beecher's  Bibles."  Henry  Ward  Beecher 
had  said  that  these  were  the  essential  requisites  for  con- 
verting the  pro-slavery  element  in  Kansas. 

Dr.  Robinson,  speaking  of  the  first  installment  of  arms, 
("The  Kansas  Conflict,"  p.  124,)  says:  "These  were  in- 
dispensable. As  soon  as  their  arrival  was  known  a  change 
in  the  atmosphere  was  perceptible,  most  agreeable  to  the 
Free-State  men  and  most  chilling  to  the  ardor  of  the  Slave- 
State  men." 

THE  CLIMAX  REACHED. —  Many  were  the  deeds  of  law- 
lessness and  murder,  which  the  scope  of  this  work  will  not 


THE    CONTEST  IN  KANSAS.  31 

permit  us  even  to  mention.  Mr.  William  Phillips,  of  Leav- 
enworth,  signed  a  protest  against  the  election  of  March 
30th,  in  that  city.  Upon  his  refusal  to  leave  the  Territory 
as  he  was  commanded,  he  was,  on  the  17th  of  May,  1855, 
seized  by  pro-slavery  men,  tarred  and  feathered,  and  sold 
at  a  mock  auction  for  a  dollar.  He  was  subsequently 
murdered  at  his  own  house,  by  a  company  of  "  law-and- 
order"  men. 

The  first  man  killed  in  Kansas  Territory  was  a  pro- 
slavery  man.  His  slayer  successfully  plead  self-defense. 
The  second,  also  a  violent  pro-slavery  man,  Malcolm  Clark 
by  name,  was  killed  at  Leavenworth  by  Colonel  McCrea. 
While  the  election  was  in  progress  at  Leavenworth,  a  band 
of  border-ruffians  crushed  in  the  windows  where  votes  were 
being  received,  causing  a  panic  among  the  officials.  At 
Easton,  another  polling-place,  Capt.  R.  P.  Brown  and  his 
men  had  a  skirmish  with  the  opposition,  in  which  one  pro- 
slavery  man  was  killed.  Brown  was  soon  after  taken  pris- 
oner, and  foully  murdered  with  a  hatchet.  Rev.  Pardee 
Butler,  a  fearless,  outspoken  free-soil  man,  was  mobbed, 
tarred  and  feathered  at  Atchison,  and  then  set  adrift  down 
the  Missouri  river  on  a  small  raft.  On  the  21st  day  of 
November,  1855,  a  pro-slavery  man,  F.  N.  Coleman,  mur- 
dered Charles  Dow,  a  Free-State  man,  at  Hickory  Point, 
Douglas  county,  some  ten  miles  south  of  Lawrence.  Dow 
was  entirely  unarmed.  This  was  the  immediate  cause  that 
brought  about  the  "  Wakarusa  war." 


CHAPTER  IY. 

WAKARUSA  WAR. 

RESCUE  OF  BRANSON. — Harrison  Buckley,  connected  with 
the  murder  of  Dow,  swore  out  a  peace  warrant  against  Ja- 
cob Branson,  at  whose  house  Dow  was  accustomed  to  make 
his  home;  he  (Branson)  having  threatened  to  shoot  Buck- 
ley at  sight.  The  warrant  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
postmaster  of  Westport,  Missouri  —  Samuel  J.  Jones,  re- 
cently commissioned  sheriff  of  Douglas  county,  of  whom 
we  shall  learn  much  in  succeeding  pages.  Jones,  with  his 
posse  of  fifteen  men,  dragged  Branson  from  his  bed  and 
ordered  him  to  mount  a  mule.  While  passing  the  house 
of  Mr.  J.  B.  Abbott  they  were  halted  by  Captain  S.  N. 
Wood's  company  of  fifteen  Free-State  men,  and  under 
guns  of  both  parties  at  a  "ready,  take  aim,"  Branson  rode 
over  to  his  friends. 

Wood,  as  Branson's  lawyer,  asked  Jones  to  produce  his 
warrant.  This  he  could  not  or  would  not  do,  and  after 
an  exchange  of  a  storm  of  words  Jones  and  his  men  pro- 
ceeded on  their  way  toward  Franklin,  minus  their  prisoner. 

RAID  ON  LAWRENCE. —  Jones,  chagrined  at  his  failure, 
but  secretly  rejoicing  that  an  excuse  was  given  him  to 
strike  his  enemy  a  telling  blow,  hastily  sent  to  his  friends 
in  Missouri  for  help,  and  at  the  same  time  runners  were 
dispatched  with  exaggerated  stories,  to  Gov.  Shannon. 
Kansas  militia  responded  but  feebly,  while  from  the  pro- 
slavery  towns,  and  Missouri,  a  motley  crowd  of  1500,  heav- 

(32) 


WAKARUSA  WAR.  33 

ily  armed  with  all  manner  of  destructive  implements, 
wended  their  way  towards  Lawrence,  encamping  on  the 
Wakarusa,  a  small  tributary  of  the  Kaw,  flowing  south  of 
the  city.  Shannon  had  sent  to  Leavenworth  for  troops. 
In  the  meantime  in  Lawrence  all  was  military  stir  and 
bustle.  What  with  the  welcoming  of  companies  of  Free- 
State  men  from  the  surrounding  country,  rejoicing  over 
several  opportune  consignments  of  Sharps  rifles,  fortifying 
for  defense,  and  the  continuous  drill  which  the  men  were 
undergoing ;  no  thought  of  surrender  was  entertained. 
Is  it  to  be  wondered  that  when  rumor  reached  the  town 
that  they  would  be  compelled  to  surrender  their  Sharps 
rifles,  the  significant  remark  was  elicited,  that  they  would 
"surrender  their  contents"? 

Robinson  and  Lane  were  placed  in  command.  The 
leaders  counseled  caution  and  moderation.  That  as  the 
citizens  of  Lawrence  had  committed  no  untoward  act,  noth- 
ing should  be  done  now  that  would  give  a  coloring  to  the 
pro-slavery  report,  and  to  the  proclamation  of  Governor 
Shannon,  that  the  citizens  of  Lawrence  were  in  open  re- 
bellion. 

On  the  contrary,  the  committee  sent  a  message  to  the 
Governor  calling  his  attention  to  the  presence  of  an  armed 
force  from  a  foreign  State,  who  were  committing  depreda- 
tions on  the  citizens,  and  asking  whether  it  was  by  his 
order,  and  requesting  their  immediate  removal.  This  mes- 
sage was  conveyed  through  the  enemy's  lines,  and  was  a 
dangerous  undertaking.  The  names  of  the  messengers 
were-  G.  P.  Lowry  and  0.  W.  Babcock. 

The  Governor  concluded  to  personally  investigate  the 
condition  of  affairs,  both  at  the  pro-slavery  camp  and  the 
city  of  Lawrence.  Having  done  so,  he  impressed  the  pro- 


34  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

slavery  gang  that  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  them 
to  successfully  attack  Lawrence  in  its  present  fortified 
condition.  On  December  7th,  Shannon  visited  Lawrence 
with  several  Missouri  leaders,  where,  with  the  Free-State 
leaders,  a  treaty  was  agreed  upon.  Shannon  disbanded 
the  baffled  Missourians,  and  Lawrence  realized  she  had 
gained  a  victory — not  by  blood,  but  through  strategy. 

THE  MURDER  OF  BARBER. — The  only  casualty  on  the 
part  of  the  Free-State  men,  was  the  murder  of  Barber.* 
On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  December,  while  riding  un- 
armed toward  his  home  with  a  brother  and  one  other  com- 
panion, Barber  was  shot  by  two  pro-slavery  men  named 
Clarke  and  Burns.  Because  of  Barber's  peaceable  and 
quiet  disposition,  and  the  unprovoked  manner  in  which  he 
was  killed,  there  was  great  excitement  among  the  soldiers 
gathered  at  Lawrence,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  they 
were  restrained  from  immediate  and  sanguinary  retaliation. 
The  army  from  Missouri  took  three  dead  bodies  with  them 
—  two  killed  accidentally  and  one  in  some  sort  of  a  quar- 
rel. 

RESULTS  OF  THE  WAKARUSA  WAR. —  The  winter  of  1855— 
56  in  Kansas  was  very  severe.  The  settlers  in  their  unfin- 
ished log  huts,  especially  the  women  and  children,  suffered 
untold  hardships.  But  little  of  a  war-like  nature  was  done 
by  the  free-soilers,  though  preparations  along  the  border 
indicated  a  more  formidable  invasion  than  had  before  been 
known.  Six  men  were  dispatched  to  the  East  for  assistance. 
They  hit  upon  the  novel  plan  of  secreting  their  credentials 
in  jugs  with  corn-cob  corks,  while  passing  through  Kansas 
and  Missouri.  They  were  successful  in  procuring  material 
assistance  for  their  Kansas  brethren. 

•  "  The  Burial  of  Barber,"  Part  3. 


WAKARUSA    WAR.  35 

The  people  of  the  South  in  the  meantime  were  not  idle. 
In  Washington,  Kansas  principally  occupied  the  attention 
of  Congress.  Plans,  suggestions,  bills  and  substitutes  were 
numerous.  But  one,  however,  came  to  maturity.  This 
provided  for  a  committee  of  three  who  were  sent  to  Kan- 
sas to  investigate.  A  mass  of  evidence  was  procured, 
which  was  of  no  credit  to  either  party  in  Kansas. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

PRO-SLAVERY  AND  FREE-STATE  DEPREDATIONS. 

JONES  WOUNDED. —  In  the  spring  Jones  became  again 
active  in  his  efforts  to  stir  anew  the  strife,  making  several 
trips  to  Lawrence  to  arrest  parties  who  had  resisted  or 
showed  contempt  for  his  authority.  While  in  Lawrence  on 
one  of  these  unwelcome  visits,  he  was  shot  and  wounded 
by  a  reckless  young  man,  J.  P.  Filer.  This  resulted  again 
in  great  excitement  among  the  pro-slavery  men  in  Kansas 
and  Missouri.  "Down  with  the  abolition  town  of  Law- 
rence !  "  was  the  cry,  "no  matter  what  the  cost  or  result." 

TERRITORIAL  INDICTMENTS. — In  May  the  grand  jury  of 
Douglas  county  was  in  session,  and  under  the  instructions 
of  Judge  Lecompte,  indictments  for  treason  were  found 
against  Robinson,  Lane,  Reeder,  and  several  others.  Bills 
were  also  found  against  the  two  Free-State  papers,  the 
Herald  of  Freedom  and  Kansas  Free-State,  and  against 
the  "Free-State  Hotel,"  which  was  "regularly  parapeted 
and  port-holed  for  the  use  of  cannon  and  small  arms." 
Reeder  escaped  in  disguise  down  the  Missouri  river,  thus 
saving  his  life.  Robinson  was  arrested  at  Lexington,  Mis- 
souri, while  on  his  way  east  for  assistance.  Lane,  by  vari- 
ous strategic  movements,  avoided  arrest. 

SECOND  RAID  ON  LAWRENCE. — United  States  Marshal 
Donaldson  called  upon  citizens  to  rally  at  Lecompton. 
"Lawrence  must  be  wiped  from  the  face  of  the  earth  this 
time  at  all  events."  Missouri  and  border  towns  of  Kansas 

(36) 


PRO  SLA  VER  Y  AND  FREE-  S  TA  TE  DEPREDA  TIONS.     3  7 

responded.  A  peculiar  assemblage  threatened  Lawrence. 
This  town  again  resorted  to  a  committee  of  safety,  and,  as 
formerly,  assumed  a  non-combative  attitude.  Supplicatory 
messages  were  sent  to  Lecompton,  but  all  to  no  purpose. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  a  young  man  named  Jones,  return- 
ing home  from  Lawrence,  was  halted  near  Blanton's  bridge, 
disarmed,  robbed,  and  murdered.  Three  boys  who  went 
out  to  investigate  the  affair  returned  in  a  few  hours  with 
their  companion,  Stewart,  a  corpse. 

On  the  21st,  Deputy  Marshal  Fain  rode  into  Lawrence 
with  his  posse  and  made  arrests,  no  resistance  being  of- 
fered. The  cannon  was  dug  up  and  surrendered  to  Jones  ; 
also  a  few  muskets.  The  Sharps  rifles  in  the  hands  of  a 
few  individuals  were  refused.  Jones  and  his  gang  then 
proceeded  to  demolish  the  two  printing-presses  and  the 
obnoxious  Free-State  Hotel.  Robberies  and  other  indig- 
nities were  indulged  in,  and  as  a  finale  the  private  dwell- 
ing of  Robinson,  on  Mount  Oread,  was  burned. 

"Lawrence  had  not  been  conquered,  for  she  had  not  re- 
sisted ;  but  it  proved  the  beginning  of  aggressive  warfare 
on  the  part  of  the  Free-State  settlers,  who  up  to  this  time, 
while  boldly  denying  the  validity  or  binding  force  of  the 
Territorial  law,  had  studiously  avoided  open  conflict  with 
the  authorities  by  passively  ignoring  them."  [Andreas, 


When  it  was  decided  to  offer  no  resistance,  armed  citi- 
zens disappeared  from  town,  and  those  who  remained  were 
counseled  to  ignore  the  presence  of  marshals,  sheriff,  and 
posse,  and  as  usual  to  proceed  with  their  daily  vocations. 

OTHER  DEPREDATIONS.  —  Straggling  parties  of  pro-slavery 
men  remained  at  Lecompton,  and  a  party  under  Captain 
Pate  and  Coleman,  the  murderer  of  Dow,  remained  in  the 


38  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

valley  of  the  Wakarusa,  threatening  and  robbing  the  set- 
tlers. This  force  was  twice  attacked  by  unknown  parties, 
much  to  the  discredit  of  the  former. 

FBEE-STATE  MEN  RETALIATE. —  "It  was  evident  that  re- 
prisals were  being  made  on  the  pro-slavery  men.  .  .  . 
In  three  days  after  the  great  '  law-and-order '  victory  at 
Lawrence,  the  whole  surrounding  country  seemed  to  be  in- 
fested with  Free-State  guerillas,  who  robbed  and  plundered 
the  pro-slavery  settlers,  and  harassed  the  'law-and-order' 
troops  without  mercy.  Shannon  waxed  wroth,  and  patrolled 
the  country  with  his  friend  Col.  Titus  and  members  of  his 
command.  He  now  proved  his  utter  incompetency  to 
govern  the  people."  It  was  while  Donaldson  and  Jones 
were  surrounding  Lawrence,  that  Charles  Sumner  was  de- 
livering in  Congress  his  famous  speech,  "The  Crime  Against 
Kansas,"  for  which,  while  writing  at  his  desk  on  the  22d 
of  May,  he  fell  under  the  brutal  blows  of  Brooks  of  South 
Carolina. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MORE    FIGHTING. 

THE  POTTAWATOMIE  MASSACRE. — On  the  night  of  May 
24th,  1856,  six  men  under  the  leadership  of  John  Brown, 
of  Osawatomie,  visited  the  valley  of  the  Pottawatomie,  and 
executed  James  Doyle,  and  his  two  sons,  together  with 
Allen  Wilkerson  and  William  Sherman.  Historians  are 
divided  as  to  the  occasion  or  result  of  this  midnight  foray  ; 
some  claiming  that  it  came  near  jeopardizing  the  Free-State 
cause  in  Kansas,  in  that  it  roused  the  opposition  and  their 
friends  to  a  pitch  bordering  on  frenzy.  Others  insist,  with 
Brown,  that  a  blow  quick  and  dreadful  was  essential  to  stop 
the  depredations  that  were  being  perpetrated  by  the  Pro- 
Slavery  party,  and  that  it  was  the  means  of  saving  many 
lives  and  homes  to  the  Free-State  cause.  It  was  one  of  the 
many  incidents  of  border  warfare  which  we  fain  would  for- 
get ;  failing  in  which,  we  pass  it  by  with  a  shudder. 

BATTLE  OF  BLACK  JACK. — Captain  H.  C.  Pate,  who  was 
still  in  the  vicinity  of  Franklin,  hearing  of  the  Pottawat- 
omie massacre,  hastened  to  retaliate.  A  squad  of  his  men 
attacked  and  plundered  Palmyra,  taking  two  prisoners. 
On  June  1st,  six  pro-slavery  men  attacked  Prairie  City, 
while  the  people  were  at  church.  They  were  suddenly  re- 
pulsed, however,  with  the  loss  of  one  man  taken  prisoner. 
Old  John  Brown,  with  twenty-eight  men,  attacked  Pate  at 
Black  Jack,  where  his  forces  were  encamped,  protected  by 
wagons  in  front  and  a  ravine  in  the  rear.  After  three  hours' 

(39) 


40  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

firing,  Pate  surrendered  his  remaining  force  of  twenty-three 
men  and  quite  an  amount  of  army  supplies.  These  were 
conveyed  to  Brown's  camp.  This  timely  attack  arid  cap- 
ture of  Pate  somewhat  disconcerted  the  plans  of  Whitfield, 
Territorial  Delegate  to  Congress,  who,  with  an  army  col- 
lected from  border  towns,  was  pushing  forward  to  join 
Pate,  in  conjunction  with  whom  every  Free-State  man  was 
to  have  been  driven  from  the  country. 

DISPERSING  THE  INVADERS. —  In  the  meantime,  150  Free- 
State  men  had  congregated  near  Palmyra.  Governor  Shan- 
non ordered  all  illegal  armed  bodies  to  disperse.  Colonel 
Sumner,  of  the  U.  S.  dragoons,  appeared  before  John 
Brown's  camp  and  ordered  the  prisoners  released.  John 
Brown  reluctantly  complied.  About  two  miles  from  Brown's 
camp  Sumner  encountered  a  pro-slavery  force  of  three  hun- 
dred under  Whitfield  and  General  Coffey,  of  the  militia. 
Sumner  read  to  them  the  Governor's  proclamation.  The 
Missourians  returned  toward  the  border,  killing  several 
Free-State  men  on  their  way,  and,  sweeping  southward, 
plundered  the  hated  town  of  Osawatomie.  It  was  only  the 
fear  of  United  States  troops,  and  that  Free-State  men  were 
near,  that  caused  them  to  postpone  the  final  settlement 
with  this  "abolition  "  home  of  John  Brown. 

KANSAS  Am  SOCIETY. — Because  of  these  scenes  recently 
enacted  in  Kansas,  the  excitement  throughout  the  North 
became  intense.  The  peaceful  organization  known  as  the 
Emigrant  Aid  Society,  whose  efforts  were  to  locate  and 
assist  the  true  settler,  was  overshadowed  by  Kansas  aid 
societies,  whose  object  was  to  furnish  men  with  arms  to 
aid  these  settlers.  Great  meetings  were  held  in  all  the 
large  cities,  and  were  addressed  by  Lane,  Reeder,  Wood, 
and  Pomeroy.  Large  volunteer  forces  responded. 


MORE  FIGHTING.  41 

AGITATION  IN  THE  SOUTH. — The  Pro-Slavery  party  be- 
came frightened  at  the  prospective  current  of  abolition  im- 
migration. Fiery  speeches  of  "southrons"  produced  large 
returns  in  men,  money,  and  arms.  A  system  of  brigandage 
was  adopted ;  all  boats  on  the  Missouri  were  inspected, 
and  landings  were  patrolled  by  armed  desperadoes  de- 
nominated the  "Law-and-Order "  party,  headed  by  Atchi- 
son  of  Missouri,  Buford  of  South  Carolina,  and  B.  F. 
Stringfellow  of  Weston,  Missouri,  till  it  finally  amounted 
to  an  absolute  blockade.  The  Free-State  men  were  event- 
ually compelled  to  open  another  route,  via  Iowa  and  Ne- 
braska, being  the  only  way  by  which  people  from  the  north 
could  enter  Kansas  Territory.  Over  this  route  came  500 
immigrants  under  Lane,  who  crossed  into  Kansas  from 
Nebraska  on  August  7th.  Redpath  followed  in  Septem- 
ber with  130  men.  Following  on  his  heels  came  Eldridge 
and  Pomeroy,  of  Lawrence,  with  223  men  well  armed 
with  rifles;  Robert  Morrow  having  been  permitted  to  take 
these  guns  from  the  State  arsenal  of  Iowa. 

BATTLE  OF  FRANKLIN. — The  Pro-Slavery  party  had 
erected  various  block-houses  or  forts,  for  the  purpose  of 
operating  against  Lawrence  —  one  at  Franklin;  one  at 
Washington  creek,  called  Ft.  Saunders ;  another  near  Le- 
compton,  Ft.  Titus.  In  June  the  fort  at  Franklin  expe- 
rienced a  night  attack,  in  which  one  of  the  defenders  was 
killed  and  several  wounded. 

SECOND  BATTLE  OF  FRANKLIN. — Again  in  August  a  party 
of  81  Free-£>tate  men  under  Lane  attacked  the  fort.  After 
discharging  volley  after  volley  for  three  hours,  without 
dislodging  the  men  in  the  fort,  a  wagon  was  filled  with 
hay  and  drawn  near  the  building  and  set  on  fire.  A  cry 
for  quarter  was  raised  from  within  —  firing  ceased  —  and 


42  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

the  fort  surrendered.  A  cannon  was  captured  and  taken 
to  Lawrence  and  hidden  in  a  cellar.  A  pattern  of  a  ball 
was  taken,  and  the  type  of  the  Herald  of  Freedom,  de- 
stroyed by  Jones  and  his  posse,  was  moulded  into  bullets 
and  hurled  against  the  walls  of  Ft.  Titus. 

FORT  SAUNDERS  CAPTURED.  —  Meanwhile,  the  Franklin 
party  had  been  reinforced  by  Captain  Samuel  Walker's 
men  from  Wakarusa  valley,  and  30  of  the  Chicago  Rifles, 
from  Topeka.  The  force,  400  strong,  and  "  straw  men  " 
arranged  in  wagons,  to  augment  the  appearance  of  the 
force,  proceeded  to  attack  the  fort  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
15th.  The  enemy  seeing  such  a  formidable  force  evac- 
uated, leaving  forty  guns  and  a  horse  which  belonged  to  a 
murdered  man,  D.  S.  Hoyt.  This  murder  was  the  imme- 
diate cause  of  the  attack  on  the  fort.  Lane  with  a  few 
companions  now  returned  to  Nebraska,  the  command  de- 
volving on  Capt.  Walker. 

FORT  TITUS.* — The  Free-State  men,  thinking  the  prison- 
ers at  Lecompton  in  danger  of  being  murdered,  started  on 
a  secret  expedition  for  that  place,  but  chanced  to  meet  a 
company  of  Col.  Titus's  men.  A  skirmish  took  place, 
which  destroyed  the  prospects  of  secretly  rescuing  the 
prisoners  at  Lecompton.  Titus  retreated  to  the  fort.  The 
cavalry,  arriving  first,  made  a  charge,  losing  one  man  and 
had  several  wounded.  The  foot  soldiers  having  now  ar- 
rived with  the  cannon,  "a  new  issue  of  the  Herald  of  Free- 
dom" was  hurled  against  the  sides  of  the  fort.  After 
thirty-six  pounds  of  this  type  —  "as  set  up  by  Captain  Bick- 
erton  "  —had  been  utilized,  Col.  Titus,  wounded,  and  cov- 
ered with  blood,  with  his  seventeen  followers,  surrendered. 
The  pro-slavery  loss  was  two  killed  and  two  wounded. 

*  "  How  we  took  Titus,"  Part  8. 


MORE  FIGHTING.  43 

The  Free-State  men  lost  Captain  Shombre,  killed,  and  six 
men  wounded. 

TREATY  OF  PEACE.  —  On  the  17th,  Governor  Shannon, 
Major  Sedgwick,  and  the  postmaster  at  Lecompton,  ap- 
peared in  Lawrence  to  negotiate  a  treaty.  The  cannon 
taken  by  Jones  at  Lawrence,  May  21st,  was  returned,  and 
six  prisoners  charged  with  taking  part  in  the  attack  on 
Franklin  were  released.  In  return,  the  Free-State  men 
surrendered  Titus  and  his  men. 

GOVERNOR  SHANNON  RESIGNS.  —  On  the  28th  of  August 
Shannon  wrote  President  Pierce :  "  I  am  unwilling  to  per- 
form the  duties  of  Governor  of  this  Territory  any  longer. 
You  will  therefore  consider  my  official  connection  with 
this  Territory  at  an  end."  Toward  the  close  of  his  admin- 
istration, he,  like  Reeder,  had  incurred  the  enmity  of  the 
Pro-Slavery  party,  and  was  compelled  to  leave  the  Terri- 
tory in  fear  of  being  murdered. 

BATTLE  OF  OSAWATOMIE. — Secretary  Woodson  again 
became  acting  Governor.  No  check  being  placed  upon  the 
armed  hordes  of  Missouri,  they  once  more  poured  into 
Kansas.  A  party  of  250  men  under  John  W.  Reid  — a  part 
of  Atchison's  army  then  encamped  on  Bull  creek,  fifteen 
miles  north  of  Osawatomie  —  under  the  guidance  of  Mar- 
tin White,  appeared  before  Osawatomie  at  dawn,  on  the 
morning  of  August  30th.  On  the  outskirts  of  the  village 
they  met  Frederick,  the  son  of  Old  John  Brown,  who  was 
shot  dead  by  this  pro-slavery  minister. 

The  leaders  of  the  Free-State  men,  Capt.  John  Brown, 
Dr.  W.  W.  Updegraff,  and  Captain  Cline,  were  notified. 
Brown  formed  his  little  army  of  defenders  south  of  the 
Marais  des  Cygnes.  After  firing  several  volleys,  a  cannon 
was  brought  to  bear  on  the  underbrush  in  which  the  Free- 


44  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

State  men  were  concealed.  This  failing  to  dislodge  them, 
a  general  charge  was  ordered  by  Reid.  Brown  and  his 
brave  defenders  were  forced  to  retreat  "on  the  plan  of 
every  man  for  himself."  The  town  was  burned  and  plun- 
dered ;  twelve  covered  wagons  being  used  to  carry  off  the 
booty  and  the  wounded.  Six  Free-State  men  were  killed. 
The  pro-slavery  loss  was  perhaps  less  than  that  number. 

JOHN  BROWN'S  MONUMENT. — In  the  suburbs  of  the  his- 
toric town  of  Osawatomie  stands  a  plain  marble  shaft,  ou 
which  are  the  following  brief  but  impressive  inscriptions  : 

"David  R.  Garrison,  Geo.  W.  Partridge,  Frederick  K. 
Brown.  In  commemoration  of  those  who  fell  on  the  30th 
of  August,  1856." 

"This  inscription  is  also  in  commemoration  of  Captain 
John  Brown,  who  commanded  at  the  battle  of  Osawatomie, 
August  30th,  1856. 

"Who  died  and  conquered  American  slavery  on  the 
scaffold,  at  Charlestown,  Virginia." 

On  the  other  side  of  the  monument  are  also  found  the 
names —  "Theon  Parker  Powers. 

Charley  Keiser." 

To  the  shame  of  the  citizens  of  Osawatonie  be  it  said, 
this  monument  is  not  inclosed,  and  vandals  have  been  per- 
mitted to  chip  off  the  corners  as  souvenirs,  and  to  write 
upon  and  otherwise  deface  the  memento. 

SEQUEL  TO  THE  BATTLE  OF  OSAWATOMIE. —  General  Lane, 
having  suddenly  returned  from  Nebraska,  hastily  gathered 
a  force  of  300,  principally  from  Topeka  and  Lawrence,  and 
proceeded  against  Atchison,  on  Bull  creek.  Nothing  came 
of  the  expedition.  The  hostile  parties  approached  each 
other,  exchanged  a  few  scattering  shots,  and  retired,  Atchi- 
son toward  Missouri  and  Lane  toward  Lawrence. 


JOHN   BROWN'S   MONUMENT   AT  OSAWATOM1E. 


MORE  FIGHTING.  45 

MOVEMENT  AGAINST  LECOMPTON. — Depredations  by  pro- 
slavery  men  caused  Lane  to  advance  upon  that  town  in 
two  formidable  columns.  One  under  Colonel  Harvey 
marched  up  the  north  side  of  the  Kaw  and  got  in  position 
to  cut  off  any  retreat ;  but  the  troops  under  Lane,  300 
strong,  were  from  some  cause  delayed,  and  did  not  reach 
Lecompton  till  the  following  day,  September  5th.  In  the 
meantime  Colonel  Harvey  and  his  force  returned  toward 
Lawrence. 

When  Lane's  men  appeared  before  Lecompton  all  was 
consternation  and  confusion.  A  messenger  was  sent  to 
the  camp  of  Colonel  Cooke,  of  the  United  States  cavalry, 
with  word  that  the  city  was  about  to  be  bombarded  by  a 
force  1,000  strong.  Cooke  appeared  upon  the  scene,  a 
parley  ensued,  the  Free-State  prisoners  were  sent  over  to 
their  friends,  and  all  returned  to  Lawrence  the  next  day. 
These  prisoners  were  not  Robinson,  Jenkins,  and  others, 
who  were  held  by  United  States  troops  near  Lecompton, 
awaiting  trial  for  high  treason. 

RELEASE  or  THE  FREE-STATE  PRISONERS. — The  last  oc- 
currence in  Woodson's  administration,  worthy  of  note,  was 
the  liberation  on  bail  of  Governor  Robinson  and  other 
Free-State  men.  They  were  never  tried  for  treason. 
Later,  Governor  Robinson  was  arraigned  on  a  charge  of 
usurpation  of  office.  The  jury  decided  there  could  be  no 
usurpation  of  office  that  did  not  exist. 


CHAPTEK  VII. 

GOVERNOR  GEARY'S  ADMINISTRATION. 

GEARY'S  PLANS. — John  W.  Geary,  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
newly-appointed  Governor,  reached  Lecompton  September 
10th,  1856.  The  national  administration  realized  that 
something  must  be  done  to  quiet  the  disorders  in  Kansas. 
Governor  Geary  was  expected  to  perform  this  task.  His 
plan  was  to  rise  above  party  prejudice  and  treat  all  alike; 
to  require  that  the  laws  be  obeyed ;  to  disband  the  militia 
and  all  other  unauthorized  bodies  of  armed  men  —  relying 
on  actual  residents  of  the  Territory  in  case  an  army  was 
needed.  On  the  llth  he  issued  his  famous  address  and 
two  proclamations  —  one  disbanding  armed  forces  then  in 
the  Territory,  the  other  providing  for  the  legal  organization 
of  the  Territorial  militia. 

BATTLE  OF  HICKOKT  POINT. — The  Governor's  proclama- 
tion did  not  have  the  immediate  effect  anticipated.  Lane 
decided  at  once  to  leave  the  Territory.  He  and  thirty  of 
his  followers  were  near  Osawkie  on  their  way  to  Nebraska, 
when  rumors  of  the  burning  of  Grasshopper  Falls  and 
other  pro-slavery  depredations  caused  him  to  attempt  to 
chastise  them.  He  accordingly  sent  to  Topeka  for  help. 
Captain  Whipple  responded  with  fifty  men.  On  the  13th 
they  marched  against  Hickory  Point,  Jefferson  county,  but 
finding  it  so  well  fortified  decided  it  useless  to  attempt  to 
dislodge  the  enemy  without  cannon,  and  sent  to  Lawrence 
for  reinforcements  and  cannon.  Meantime,  Lane,  hearing 

(46) 


GOVERNOR   GEARY'S  ADMINISTRATION.  47 

of  Geary's  proclamation,  dismissed  Whipple's  force,  and 
proceeded  on  his  way  to  Nebraska.  Harvey  marched  di- 
rectly across  the  country,  and  though  unsupported,  at- 
tacked the  town,  and  after  several  hours  fighting  captured 
the  whole  pro-slavery  force.  The  prisoners  were  released 
on  parole  and  the  victors  started  toward  Lawrence.  On 
the  way  they  were  captured  by  United  States  troops, 
Colonel  Harvey  making  his  escape.  Several  months  of 
captivity  ensued.  Many  were  acquitted,  while  some  were 
sentenced  on  March  2d,  according  to  Gihon,  to  a  term  of 
from  five  to  seven  years  in  the  penitentiary. 

THIED  ATTEMPT  TO  DESTROY  LAWRENCE.  —  In  spite  of  in- 
augurals and  proclamations,  a  large  pro-slavery  party  pushed 
toward  Lawrence  by  way  of  Franklin.  The  Governor, 
responding  to  the  appeals  of  Free-State  men,  appeared  at 
Lawrence  on  the  13th  of  September  in  company  with  Col. 
Cooke  and  three  hundred  cavalry.  "The  scare  was  pre- 
mature," says  Prof.  Spring,  "as  the  Missourians  drew  off 
under  cover  of  darkness  without  pressing  an  attack." 
Governor  Geary  made  a  reassuring  speech,  and  returned 
to  Lecompton.  On  the  14th  scouts  arrived  with  the  start- 
ling intelligence  that  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  were  ad- 
vancing. Affairs  in  Lawrence  were  indeed  gloomy.  Lane 
had  disappeared.  Col.  Harvey  and  Captain  Bickerton 
with  the  artillery  were  absent.  Provisions  and  ammunition 
were  scarce ;  a  force  of  three  hundred:  poorly-armed  men 
was  all  that  could  be  mustered.  Here  and  there  "  Old  John 
Brown  urged  his  favorite  maxim,  'Keep  cool  and  fire 
low.'"  "He  held  no  command,  but  did  all  in  his  power, 
advising,  and  by  his  words  of  counsel,  inspiring  the  little 
squads  that  he  visited  at  their  various  posts,  with  some- 
thing of  his  own  iron  determination  and  contempt  of 


48  '  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

danger."  Two  detachments  were  sent  forward  to  check 
the  enemy's  advance ;  a  running  fire  was  continued  for 
some  time,  after  which  the  Missourians  returned  to  camp 
for  the  night.  The  repulsing  party  lay  on  their  arms 
watching  against  surprise,  at  the  time  of  Governor  Geary's 
arrival.  The  gray  light  of  the  morning  showed  to  the 
anxious  watchers  the  stars  and  stripes  flaunting  from  Mt. 
Oread,  cannon  were  frowning  from  its  heights,  and  the 
white  tents  of  Cooke's  squadrons  dotted  its  summit.  The 
danger  was  over — Lawrence  was  saved  ! 

FIBST  THANKSGIVING  IN  KANSAS. —  Governor  Geary  now 
found  leisure  to  make  a  tour  of  observation  through  the 
Territory,  and,  after  congratulating  himself  and  the  people 
on  the  peaceful  condition  of  the  country,  appointed  No- 
vember 20th,  1856,  "as  a  day  of  general  praise  and 
thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God" — the  first  proclamation 
of  the  kind  issued  in  Kansas  Territory. 

THE  TOPEKA  LEGISLATURE. —  On  January  6th,  1857,  a 
few  members  of  what  was  known  as  the  "Topeka  Legis- 
lature" met.  Governor  Robinson  being  absent  and  no 
quorum  present,  the  minority  adjourned  to  the  following 
day.  At  the  instance  and  connivance  of  Sheriff  Jones 
and  Judge  Cato,  several  of  the  most  prominent  members 
were  arrested.  The  remainder  took  a  recess  to  June  9th. 
The  arrested  members  were  released  on  giving  bail  in  the 
sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  each.  They  were  never  after- 
ward brought  to  trial. 

THE  TERRITORIAL  LEGISLATURE. — This  body  met  on  the 
12th  day  of  January,  1857,  and  from  beginning  to  end 
was  bitterly  opposed  to  Geary  and  his  policy.  The  climax 
was  reached  when  the  notorious  W.  T.  Sherrard — would-be 
successor  to  Sheriff  Jones — was  killed  in  a  quarrel  at  Le- 


GOVERNOR   GEARY'S  ADMINISTRATION.  49 

compton.  Sherrard  had  previously  insulted  the  Governor 
and  threatened  his  life.  The  Legislature  had  espoused 
the  cause  of  Sherrard.  His  timely  death  without  doubt 
saved  the  life  of  the  Governor.  Governor  Geary,  becom- 
ing tired  of  the  thankless  task  of  trying,  conscientiously, 
to  perform  his  duties,  resigned,  and,  like  his  predecessors, 
fled  from  the  Territory. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

A  CHAPTER   IN    POLITICS. 

ACTING  GOVERNORS  WOODSON  AND  STANTON. — Secretary 
Woodson  served  again  as  acting  Governor,  from  April 
16th  to  May  27th.  Though  he  did  his  best  to  stir  up  new 
strife,  owing  to  his  brief  control  of  public  affairs  his  rule 
was  comparatively  without  incident.  It  was  now  appar- 
ent that  Kansas  could  not  be  made  a  slave  State,  but  lead- 
ing men  of  the  Pro-Slavery  party  thought  that  it  might  be 
made  a  Democratic  State.  Therefore  the  appointment  of 
Robert  J.  Walker  as  Governor  indicated  a  change  in  Fed- 
eral tactics,  viz.:  that  the  work  of  a  constitutional  conven- 
tion should  be  submitted  to  the  people  for  their  ratification 
or  rejection.  Meanwhile,  Frederick  P.  Stanton  had  pre- 
ceded the  newly -appointed  Governor  to  Kansas.  He 
issued  an  address  in  which  the  policy  of  the  new  admin- 
istration was  outlined.  Stanton  caused  a  census  to  be 
taken,  with  a  view  to  apportioning  delegates  to  a  constitu- 
tional convention.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  nineteen  in- 
terior counties  out  of  thirty -four  in  the  State  had  no 
representation,  the  Free-State  men  ignored  the  election. 
As  a  result,  the  delegates  to  the  Lecompton  Convention 
were  elected  by  a  vote  comprising  less  than  one -fourth 
those  shown  by  the  census. 

GOVERNOR  WALKER.' — May  26,  1857,  Governor  Walker 
reached  the  Territorial  seat  of  government.  He  hoped  to 
impress  upon  the  people  the  fairness  of  his  pacific  and 

(50) 


A    CHAPTER  IN  POLITICS.  51 

honorable  policy,  and  that  all  controversies  should  be 
settled  by  the  peaceful  but  decisive 'struggle  of  the  ballot- 
box.  The  Topeka  Legislature,  with  a  mass  convention 
attached,  convened  June  9th.  There  were  loud  and  wordy 
discussions,  all  of  which  concluded  in  the  adoption  of  mild 
or  unimportant  measures. 

At  another  convention  of  Free-State  men,  held  at  To- 
peka, July  15th,  resolutions  were  passed  favoring  a  partici- 
pation in  the  fall  elections,  and  calling  a  mass  convention 
at  Grasshopper  Falls  in  August.  August  26th,  Free-State 
people  met  and  reaffirmed  their  decision  to  take  part  in 
the  election  of  Territorial  officers. 

THE  ELECTIONS. — The  5th  of  October  proved  a  harvest- 
time  for  Free -State  men.  Many  fraudulent  votes  were 
polled ;  especially  was  this  true  in  McGee  and  Johnson 
counties.  Later  in  October,  Walker  threw  out  these  re- 
turns on  technical  grounds.  The  Free-State  party  elected 
nine  of  the  thirteen  Councilmen  and  twenty-four  of  the 
thirty-nine  Representatives.  Thus  Walker  and  Stanton 
fulfilled  their  public  pledges  that  the  polls  should  receive 
protection  at  their  hands. 

THE  LECOMPTON  CONVENTION. —  The  first  convention  of 
the  Pro-Slavery  party  met  at  Lecompton,  September  7th. 
After  several  days  spent  principally  in  organizing,  this 
body  adjourned  to  meet  again  October  19th.  The  motive 
for  this  delay  was  the  election  of  members  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, the  result  of  which  would  mark  out  largely  the  line 
of  policy  to  be  pursued.  The  convention  after  a  lengthy 
debate  extricated  itself  from  the  perplexing  task  of  forcing 
a  pro -slavery  constitution  upon  a  people  largely  anti- 
slavery,  by  submitting  to  the  people  only  a  part  of  the 


52  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

constitution.  Ballots  were  to  be  prepared,  "  Constitution 
with  slavery,"  or,  "Constitution  with  no  slavery." 

The  Free-State  men  thought  this  would  utterly  preclude 
all  chance  of  success  for  them,  as  the  slavery  clause  was 
so  worded  as  to  admit  of  slavery  in  Kansas  whether  they 
voted  "  for  "  or  "  against ";  and  further,  "  the  vote  as  pro- 
posed must  result  in  the  acceptance  of  the  constitution  in 
some  form,  and  the  consequent  repudiation  of  the  Topeka 
Constitution  and  every  Free-State  movement  made  by  the 
people  of  the  Territory." 

RESIGNATION  OF  WALKEK  AND  REMOVAL  or  STANTON. — 
At  this  juncture  Governor  Walker,  becoming  thoroughly 
disgusted  with  such  nefarious  proceedings,  left  the  Terri- 
tory and  never  returned.  On  December  17th  he  tendered 
his  resignation.  Acting  Governor  Stanton,  at  the  urgent 
request  of  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature, 
in  order  to  avert  an  immediate  civil  war,  convened  that 
body,  for  which  act  he  was  summarily  removed. 

FIRST  FREE-STATE  TERRITORIAL  LEGISLATURE. —  This  Leg- 
islature convened,  amid  great  rejoicing,  at  Lecompton, 
December  7th,  1857.  The  most  important  act  passed  was 
a  provision  for  the  submission  of  the  Lecompton  Consti- 
tution to  a  vote  of  the  people  on  January  4th,  1858. 

YOTE    ON    THE    LECOMPTON    CONSTITUTION,  DECEMBER    21, 

1857.  The  Free-State  party  took  no  part  in  this  election, 
which  resulted  in  an  old-time  one-sided  fraudulent  affair. 
The  T)ona  fide  vote  making  Kansas  a  slave  State  was  3,121. 
The  fraudulent  votes  cast  were  3,012. 

THE  VOTE  ON  CONSTITUTION  AND  STATE  OFFICERS. —  Ac- 
cording to  previous  arrangements  by  Free-State  men,  in 
convention,  a  ticket  was  nominated,  and  on  January  4th, 


A    CHAPTER  IN  POLITICS.  53 

1858,  an  election  was  held  which  was  participated  in  by 
the  entire  Pro-Slavery  party.  Andreas  estimated  the  votes 
at  this  time  as  follows.  Total  vote  17,000.  Pro-Slavery 
votes  4,000 ;  Free-State  13,000.  Total  population  55,000. 
The  Free-State  officers  elected  received  majorities  ranging 
from  301  to  696..  The  vote  on  the  Lecompton  Constitu- 
tion was  almost  unanimous  against  that  instrument.  The 
Free-State  officers  elected  immediately  prepared  a  memo- 
rial to  Congress  refusing  to  serve  under  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  that  body  not  to  admit  Kansas  under  it. 

THE  DISPOSAL  OF  THE  LECOMPTON  CONSTITUTION. —  Febru- 
ary 2d  President  Buchanan  submitted  the  Lecompton  Con- 
stitution to  Congress,  urging  the  immediate  admission  of 
Kansas  as  a  State.  March  22d  the  Constitution  passed 
the  Senate,  but  failed  in  the  House.  There  a  substitute 
was  offered  known  as  the  "Crittenden-Montgomery  Bill," 
which  left  the  question  to  the  people  of  Kansas.  This 
substitute  was  rejected  by  the  Senate,  and  the  matter  re- 
ferred to  a  conference  committee,  which  formulated  the 
"English  Bill."  One  provision  was  in  the  form  of  a 
bribe  of  large  land  grants  to  the  new  State,  provided  the 
Lecompton  Constitution  was  adopted.  "The  proposition 
was  simply  an  offer  combining  a  bribe  and  a  threat,  ten- 
dered a  free  people  in  barter  for  their  principles,  and  was 
met  with  the  execration  and  repudiation  it  deserved." 
[  Andreas.'] 

At  an  election  held  in  Kansas  August  2d,  the  English 
Bill  and  the  Lecompton  Constitution  were  disposed  of  as 
indicated  by  the  following  vote :  For  the  proposition, 
1,788;  against  the  proposition,  11,300;  majority  against, 
9,512. 

LAST  OF  THE  TOPEKA  LEGISLATURE. —  On  January  5th  the 


54  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

Topeka  Legislature  convened  at  Topeka.  Governor  Rob- 
inson in  his  message  urged  the  importance  of  sustaining 
the  Free-State  organization,  and  without  obstructing  the 
course  of  events  so  long  as  the  tendency  was  toward  the 
establishing  of  the  principles  set  forth  in  the  Topeka  Con- 
stitution. 

When  the  4th  day  of  March  arrived,  the  time  set  for 
the  reassembling  of  the  Legislature,  no  quorum  appear- 
ing, it  died  a  natural  death.  "The  times  had  outgrown  it, 
and  it  fell,  not  into  disrepute,  but  disuse."  "It  had  for 
three  years  been  the  shrine  at  which  the  whole  Free-State 
party  had  worshipped,  and  the  citadel  of  liberty  that  had 
never  been  surrendered  to  a  foe.  No  truer,  no  braver 
band  of  freemen  ever  fought  the  desperate  fight  of  free- 
dom against  such  appalling  odds  as  did  those  who  defended 
it.  Their  names  will  go  down  the  ages  in  imperishable 
renown  as  the  unconquerable  defenders  of  Free-State  insti- 
tutions under  the  aegis  of  the  Topeka  Free-State  Constitu- 
tion." 

THIKD  TERRITORIAL  LEGISLATURE. — The  third  session  of 
the  Territorial  Legislature  commenced  at  Lecompton, 
January  4th,  1858,  and  on  the  6th  adjourned  to  Lawrence. 
Among  the  most  important  measures  enacted  were :  The 
removal  of  the  capital  to  Minneola  (afterward  declared 
illegal  by  the  Attorney  General),  and  a  bill  providing  for 
the  election  of  delegates  to  a  constitutional  convention  to 
meet  at  Minneola.  There  was  a  question  as  to  the  legality 
of  this  bill,  as  it  was  passed  after  the  legal  term  of  the 
Legislature  had  closed. 

MORE  CONVENTIONS  AND  CONSTITUTIONS. — Notwithstand- 
ing the  question  of  legality,  the  convention  met  at  Min- 
neola, organized,  and  adjourned  to  meet  at  Leavenworth 


A    CHAPTER  IN  POLITICS.  55 

—  hence  the  name  "  Leaven  worth  Constitution."  But 
when  a  vote  was  taken  on  the  adoption  of  the  constitution 
only  about  3,000  votes  were  cast  for  it  out  of  a  voting 
population  of  perhaps  15,000.  "The  stigma  of  its  origin 
destroyed  an  otherwise  excellent  constitution." 

Admission  of  Kansas  to  the  Union  was  asked  under  this 
constitution.  It  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Terri- 
tories, in  which  lethargic  condition  it  still  remains. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WAR  IN  THE  SOUTHEAST. 

The  reader  must  bear  in  mind  that  it  is  but  an  epitome 
of  Kansas  history  which  we  attempt  to  record.  Hence 
the  earnest  student  is  referred  to  the  works  of  Andreas, 
Wilder,  Spring,  Robinson  and  others  for  a  more  extended 
discussion  of  the  subject.  While  the  foregoing  sangui- 
nary and  political  events  were  taking  place,  having  direct 
connection  with  the  history  of  the  Territory,  much  des- 
ultory fighting  was  indulged  in  under  the  leadership  of 
Captain  James  Montgomery  and  John  Brown  of  the  "  Jay- 
hawkers,"  and  Captain  Hamilton  and  G.  W.  Clarke  of  the 
Pro-Slavery  party. 

The  southeast  counties  of  Kansas,  being  off  the  line  of 
Northern  immigration,  were  for  a  long  time  the  victims 
of  pro -slavery  aggression.  Fort  Scott  seemed  to  be  the 
pro-slavery  stronghold. 

BATTLE  OF  MIDDLE  CREEK.  —  An  evening  in  August, 
1856,  found  Captain  Davis's  command  'from  Fort  Scott  en- 
camped on  Middle  creek,  nine  miles  southwest  of  Osa- 
watomie.  Fate  ordained  that  nearly  an  equal  number  of 
Free -State  men  under  Captains  Anderson,  Cline,  and 
Shore,  should  encamp  in  the  same  neighborhood.  In  the 
early  morning  an  attack  was  ordered.  The  Free -State 
men,  advancing  rapidly,  were  fired  on  by  the  Missourians. 
The  fire  was  returned  at  such  a  rate  of  interest  that  Cap- 
tain Davis's  command  beat  a  hasty  retreat,  leaving  several 

(56) 


WAR  IN  THE   SOUTHEAST.  57 

prisoners  and  two  wounded  men,  one  of  whom  died,  and 
a  ready- cooked  breakfast,  not  to  mention  a  black  flag  in- 
scribed with  red  letters,  "Victory  or  death." 

CAPTAIN  CLARKE'S  EXPLOITS. — In  the  fall  of  1856, 
Geo.  W.  Clarke,  who  murdered  Barber  during  the  Waka- 
rusa  war,  at  the  head  of  a  band  of  Missourians  under- 
took to  intimidate  and  drive  out  Free -State  settlers  by 
burning  buildings,  destroying  crops,  and  "taking  any- 
thing he  wanted,"  until  a  soldier  of  the  Black  Hawk  war 
who  had  also  fought  in  the  wars  of  the  United  States  was 
led  to  say,  "  I  never  saw  anything  so  bad  and  mean  in  my 
life  as  I  saw  under  General  Clarke." 

JAMES  MONTGOMERY.* — Compelled  to  hide  to  save  his 
life  because  of  Clarke,  and  at  first  to  fight  his  enemies 
single-handed,  was  one  James  Montgomery,  who  afterward 
developed  into  one  of  the  most  active  and  deadly  enemies 
to  the  Pro-Slavery  party.  Montgomery,  seeing  no  attempt 
at  redress  by  law,  at  last  formed  a  company  of  his  neigh- 
bors and  took  the  field  —  making  strategic  raids  on  the 
enemy  whether  in  Missouri  or  Kansas.  "This  bold  and 
decided  course  of  the  Free-State  men  had  the  desired  effect, 
peace  for  the  time  being  was  secured,  and  Montgomery  re- 
turned to  his  home." 

MARAIS  DBS  CYGNES. —  Captain  A.  C.  Hamilton  was  re- 
ported as  having  made  a  list  of  Free-State  men  who  were 
to  be  "put  out  of  the  way."  This  list  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  ever- vigilant  Montgomery,  who  determined  to  kill 
Hamilton  at  the  first  opportunity.  About  May  1st,  Mont- 
gomery with  a  party  of  men  and  a  howitzer  approached 
the  log  house  of  Hamilton,  and,  had  it  not  been  for  the 

*  "  James  Montgomery,"  Part  2,  ( Moody's  Poem.) 


58  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

approach  of  United  States  troops,  we  doubtless  should  not 
have  to  chronicle  the  Marais  des  Cygnes  massacre*  as  an 
event  in  Kansas  history.  The  death  list  referred  to  was 
given  by  Captain  Montgomery  to  the  sheriff  of  Linn  county, 
who  assured  Montgomery  that  the  men  who  were  proscribed 
would  be  protected.  But  justice,  as  usual  in  those  days, 
lagged,  and  Hamilton  unexpectedly  made  his  appearance, 
arrested  Patrick  Ross,  B.  L.  Reed,  W.  A.  Stilwell,  Asa  and 
William  Hairgrove,  Austin  and  Amos  Hall,  William  Col- 
petzer,  W.  Robertson,  Asa  Snyder,  and  John  F.  Campbell, 
(all  quiet,  inoffensive  citizens,)  took  them  to  a  ravine,  drew 
them  up  in  line,  and  deliberately  shot  them.  Five  were 
killed,  five  wounded,  and  one  feigned  death  and  fell  with 
the  others.  The  killed  were  Campbell,  Colpetzer,  Ross, 
Stilwell,  and  Robertson.  Montgomery  returned  on  the 
evening  of  the  massacre.  A  pursuit  was  instituted,  but 
nothing  was  done  with  Hamilton.  Five  years  afterward 
one  of  his  men,  William  Griffith,  was  tried,  convicted,  and 
afterward  hanged  by  one  of  the  wounded  men,  Asa  Hair- 
grove. 

JOHN  BROWN  AGAIN  IN  KANSAS. — In  the  fall  of  1858 
Old  John  Brown,  who  had  been  invited  into  Linn  county 
by  one  Augustus  Wattles,  to  assist  in  fighting  the  pro- 
slavery  men,  was  introduced  under  the  assumed  name  of 
Shubal  Morgan,  his  personal  safety  and  the  success  of  his 
maneuvers  requiring  it.  Brown's  first  aggressive  move- 
ment was  a  raid  into  Missouri,  where  he  liberated  17  slaves. 
December  20th,  Brown's  men  in  two  detachments  —  one 
under  Brown,  the  other  under  J.  H.  Kagi  —  paid  their  re- 
spects to  Missouri  the  second  time.  Brown's  party  was 
successful  in  liberating  ten  slaves.  Kagi's  party  liberated 

*"ke  Marais  du  Cygne,"  Part  $. 


WAR  IN   THE  SOUTHEAST.  59 

one  slave  and  killed  one  white  man.  This  caused  so  much 
excitement  that  the  Governor  of  Missouri  offered  $3,000 
for  Brown's  arrest,  and  President  Buchanan  offered  $250 
for  his  head.  Brown  took  his  negroes  into  Franklin 
county,  where  he  secreted  them  for  a  month  in  an  old 
cabin  near  Lane.  He  then  moved  north,  and  when  near 
Holton  a  band  of  pro-slavery  men  from  Atchison  tried  to 
recapture  his  negroes,  but  were  compelled  to  beat  a  hasty 
retreat.  This  event  is  known  as  the  "  Battle  of  the  Spurs." 
JOHN  BROWN'S  FAMOUS  PARALLELS.* — While  in  Franklin 
county,  John  Brown  wrote  his  u  Parallels,"  dating  at  Trad- 
ing Post  to  shield  himself  and  friends  from  suspicion,  and 
that  his  plans  might  be  successful. 

*"  John  Brown's  Parallels,"  Part  2. 


CHAPTER  X. 

KANSAS  BECOMES  A  STATE. 

FIRST  REPUBLICAN  PARTY  IN  KANSAS. — The  most  notable 
political  event  of  1859,  in  Kansas,  was  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party  of  Kansas,  at  Osawatomie,  on  the 
18th  of  May.  After  the  organization  was  completed,  the 
great  and  good  Horace  Greeley  addressed  the  convention. 

GOVERNORS  DENVER  AND  MED  ART.  —  On  March  15, 
1858,  Secretary  Denver  became  acting  Governor  of  Kan- 
sas Territory,  but  did  not  take  the  oath  of  office  till  May 
12th  of  that  year.  The  following  words  of  praise  from 
his  political  opponent,  Governor  Robinson,  speak  volumes 
in  praise  of  his  administration:  "It  is  enough  to  say  of 
Secretary,  and  afterward  Governor,  Denver  that  he  proved 
to  be  as  good  as  his  word,  and  the  Territory  under  his  ad- 
ministration prospered  politically  as  well  as  materially. 
In  the  disturbances  of  southern  Kansas,  and  in  every  posi- 
tion, he  acted  with  impartiality,  and  gained  the  confidence 
of  the  bonajide  residents  of  the  Territory,  and  of  all  par- 
ties." "This  high  praise,  coming  as  it  did  from  one  of  his 
leading  political  opponents,  did  not  exceed  the  acknowl- 
edged deserts  of  the  upright  and  faithful  official  upon  whom 
it  was  bestowed."  [Andreas.'] 

He  was  censured  by  the  Pro-Slavery  party  for  making  a 
treaty  with  Captain  Montgomery.  He  was  compelled  to 
resign,  to  forestall  removal  by  the  President. 

The  administration  of  the  last  of  the  Territorial  governors, 

(60) 


KANSAS  BECOMES  A    STATE.  61 

Samuel  Medary,  was  uneventful.  To  put  an  end  to  feuds 
that  were  still  agitating  different  portions  of  the  Territory,  he 
issued  a  general  amnesty  proclamation  to  all  who  had  com- 
mitted crimes  because  of  political  disturbances  in  Kansas. 

KANSAS  FAMINE,  1860. —  Excessive  drought  caused  a 
failure  of  crops  throughout  the  Territory.  Later,  myriads 
of  grasshoppers  in  many  places  completed  the  destruction 
of  growing  vegetation.  Springs  and  wells  dried  up. 
Scarcely  a  family  escaped  the  ague,  or  malarial  fever  in 
some  form,  resulting  frequently  in  death.  The  suffering 
was  increased  by  the  severe  winter  of  1860—61.  Snow  fell 
to  a  depth  of  two  feet,  remaining  on  the  ground  six  weeks. 
The  settlers  felled  trees,  that  the  stock  might  subsist  on  the 
buds,  or  browse.  Nothing  but  charity  stood  between  many 
of  the  people  and  starvation.  But  through  the  liberality 
of  the  East,  8,090,951  pounds  of  provisions  and  2,500  bush- 
els of  seed  wheat  were  distributed  at  Atchison.  Besides 
this,  churches  and  individuals  sent  relief  to  friends  in  Kan- 
sas. So  difficult  was  it  to  transport  these  goods  to  the  in- 
terior because  of  the  condition  of  the  horses  and  oxen,  that 
many  who  could  do  so  freighted  on  shares,  receiving  half 
for  their  services.  It  is  estimated  that  30,000  settlers  "  went 
back  to  wife's  folks"  in  1860.  Fortunately,  the  storms 
drove  the  buffalo  further  east  than  they  had  roamed  for 
years,  and  though  they  were  thin  in  flesh,  they  were  gladly 
killed  and  eaten  by  the  western  settlers. 

KANSAS  ADMITTED. — In  1859  the  Legislature  passed  an 
act  authorizing  yet  another  constitutional  convention.  On 
the  28th  of  March  this  proposition  was  submitted  to  the 
people — three-fourths  of  the  votes  being  favorable.  The 
election  of  delegates  occurred  June  7th,  and  on  the  5th 
of  July  the  convention  met  at  Wyandotte  and  framed  a 


62  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

constitution.  In  October  it  was  ratified  by  the  people ; 
then  followed  the  election  of  State  officers  on  December 
6th.  Dr.  Robinson  was  elected  first  Governor  of  the 
State.  The  bill  admitting  Kansas  into  the  Union  was 
signed  by  President  Buchanan,  January  29th,  1861,  and 
Kansas  became  the  thirty-fourth  State  of  the  Union. 

How  THE  NEWS  WAS  RECEIVED. —  In  Kansas  the  news 
is  received  with  great  rejoicing  and  bonfires.  The  Leav- 
enworth  Conservative  prints  an  extra,  and  D.  R.  Anthony 
carries  it  to  Lawrence ;  Captain  Swift  and  others  dig  up 
the  historic  gun  "Old  Sacramento,"  (buried  near  Clinton, 
in  Douglas  county,)  go  to  Lawrence  and  help  celebrate. 
Songs  and  speech-making  were  indulged  in  till  nearly 
morning  of  the  following  day. 

STATE  SEAL. — In  1861,  Mr.  Ingalls  writes:  "The  vexed 
question  of  a  State  seal  has  at  last  received  its  quietus  at 
the  hands  of  a  conference  committee.  The  new  design 
embraces  a  prairie  landscape  with  buffalo  pursued  by  In- 
dian hunters,  a  settler's  cabin,  and  a  plowman  with  his 
team,  a  river  with  a  steamboat,  a  cluster  of  thirty-four  stars 
surrounding  the  legend,  'Ad  Astra  per  Aspera,'  the  whole 
encircled  by  the  words,  '  Great  Seal  of  the  State  of  Kan- 
sas. 1861.'" 

ORIGIN  or  NAME  AND  MEANING  OF  MOTTO. —  The  name 
Kansas  is  an  Indian  0word,  and  means  Smoky  Water. 
Some,  however,  insist  —  and  with  a  good  show  of  reason 
• — that  the  name  signifies  "Child  of  the  Wind."  The 
motto  "Ad  Astra  per  Aspera  "  is  from  the  Latin,  and  means 
"To  the  stars  through  difficulties." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

KANSAS  DURING  THE  CIVIL   WAR. 

Within  three  months  after  being  admitted  to  the  Union, 
Kansas  was  called  upon  to  furnish  her  quota  of  troops  to 
defend  that  Union.  From  June,  1861,  to  July,  1864, 
Kansas  raised  seventeen  regiments,  20,097  men  —  being 
3,443  more  than  her  quota,  and  more  soldiers  in  propor- 
tion to  population  than  any  other  State.  Statistics  show 
that  the  per  cent,  of  killed,  and  deaths  from  disease,  was 
greatest  among  Kansas  troops. 

LAWRENCE  RAID,  1863.* — In  the  afternoon  of  August 
20,  Quantrill,  a  famous  guerrilla  chief,  crossed  the  Mis- 
souri line  into  Kansas ;  marched  rapidly  and  quietly 
throughout  the  night  toward  Lawrence ;  passed  through 
the  towns  of  Gardner  and  Hesper,  reaching  an  eminence 
near  the  doomed  city  about  sunrise,  August  21st ;  here  a 
parley  was  held,  many  declaring  it  would  be  madness  to 
attack  the  town ;  Quantrill  avowed  he  would  enter  the 
town  alone.  This  bold  assertion  imbued  the  followers 
with  some  of  the  spirit  of  their  leader.  Two  horsemen 
were  sent  through  the  town  on  a  reconoissance,  and  re- 
turned with  the  gratifying  report  that  the  town  was 
asleep.  A  wild  charge  was  made  upon  the  town  by  the 
175  raiders.  They  dashed  through  the  main  streets  shout- 
ing like  demons,  and  shooting  right  and  left  at  people  on 
the  sidewalks  or  at  the  windows.  After  getting  possession 

*  Read  "Lawrence  Raid,"  by  Ellen  Patton,  Part 2,  and  "A  itordur  Memory,"  Part  2. 

(63) 


64:  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

of  the  Eldridge  House,  (formerly  Free-State  Hotel,)  from 
which  they  had  expected  resistance,  they  scattered  through- 
out all  parts  of  the  town  burning  and  plundering  build- 
ings and  murdering  inhabitants. 

Promises  to  save  the  town,  if  no  resistance  was  offered, 
induced  many  to  surrender,  who  were  immediately  mur- 
dered. "Burn  every  house  and  kill  every  man,"  was  the 
leader's  command.  "It  is  doubtful  if  the  world  ever  wit- 
nessed such  a  scene  of  horror,"  writes  one.  "As  the 
scene  at  their  entrance  was  one  of  the  wildest,  the  scene 
after  their  departure  was  one  of  the  saddest  that  ever  met 
mortal  gaze."  On  one  street  75  buildings  were  destroyed. 
The  streets  and  walks  were  lined  with  dead  bodies,  many 
being  charred  so  that  they  could  not  be  recognized.  The 
whole  number  killed  was  143  and  twenty-five  wounded. 
Nearly  two  millions  of  dollars'  worth  of  property  was 
stolen  or  destroyed. 

About  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  the  raiders,  freshly 
mounted,  and  loaded  with  booty,  started  for  Missouri. 

Lane  collected  about  35  followers  and  gave  chase. 
Though  this  company  and  250  men  under  Major  Plumb 
came  up  with  the  raiders,  for  some  reason  the  blow  was 
not  struck,  and  the  ruffian  band  escaped. 

PRICE  RAID. — In  October,  1864,  General  Sterling  Price 
attempted  to  invade  Kansas.  Troops  under  Generals  Curtis 
and  Blunt,  in  western  Kansas  fightin'g  Indians,  were  called 
to  repel  the  invasion.  The  Governor  of  Kansas  issued  a 
proclamation  calling  out  the  entire  State  militia,  amount- 
ing to  12,622  men. 

BATTLE  OF  LEXINGTON.  —  The  troops  under  Blunt  and 
Lane,  though  outnumbered  ten  to  one,  made  desperate  at- 
tempts to  check  Price's  advance,  fighting  continually  for 


KANSAS  DURING   THE  CIVIL   WAR.  65 

eight  hours  while  retreating  from  Lexington  toward  Inde- 
pendence. The  Union  loss  was  200.  The  enemy's  loss 
was  reported  at  500. 

BATTLE  or  THE  BIG  BLUE. — On  the  morning  of  the  22d 
Curtis's  army  took  position  along  the  banks  of  the  Big 
Blue.  Colonel  Jennison  held  his  position  at  Byrom's  ford 
by  raking  the  enemy  with  his  howitzers,  till  the  rebels 
flanked  him  by  utilizing  cattle  fords ;  he  then  retreated 
toward  Westport.  Here  he  was  reinforced  by  Colonel 
Moonlight,  Major  Hunt,  and  others.  A  movement  was 
made  against  Shelby's  advance,  and  he  was  forced  back  to 
the  Big  Blue,  where  he  encamped  that  night.  While  this 
repulse  was  taking  place,  the  Shawnee  County  Militia  under 
Colonel  Yeale  were  compelled  to  fight  six  times  their  num- 
ber, in  which  battle  they  lost  over  100  men  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing. 

BATTLE  OF  WESTPORT. — On  the  22d,  the  army  at  West- 
port  was  reinforced  by  General  Pleasonton  with  7,000 
cavalry  and  several  pieces  of  artillery. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  23d  the  advancing  Union 
forces  met  the  enemy,  and  after  a  sharp  contest  of  varying 
fortunes  the  enemy  were  driven  into  an  open  prairie  and 
a  precipitate  retreat  ensued. 

PURSUIT  OF  PRICE. — Price's  retreat  was  along  the  State 
line,  southwesterly  to  Linn  county,  thence  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Fort  Scott,  then  eastward  through  Missouri  to  the 
south  of  the  Arkansas  river.  He  was  hotly  pursued  by 
Kansas  troops,  who  continually  harassed  his  flanks  and 
rear,  and  bringing  him  to  engagements  at  Trading  Post  and 
Mine  Creek,  in  Linn  county,  Kansas.  At  the  latter  place 
they  captured  Major  General  Marmaduke,  three  brigadiers, 


66  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

and  800  men.  Another  sharp  conflict  took  place  at  Osage 
crossing,  in  Kansas.  On  the  29th  a  general  engagement 
took  place  at  Newtonia,  Missouri.  Price  fled  along  the 
Cassville  road. 


•  CHAPTER  XII. 

INDIAN  WARS. 

In  April,  1864,  there  was  a  general  uprising  of  the  In- 
dians of  the  plains,  and  for  months  a  cruel  war  was  waged 
against  the  settlers  of  Kansas.  War  was  kept  up  almost 
continually  for  six  years.  Alarms  and  attacks  on  some 
defenseless  settlement  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  After 
one  of  these  Indian  raids  the  settlers  would,  if  possible,  or- 
ganize and  pursue  the  savages,  who  usually,  however,  made 
good  their  escape. 

An  army  of  militia  under  Curtis,  in  pursuit  of  Indians, 
was  recalled  to  suppress  the  Price  raid  in  1864. 

PAWNEES  AND  OMAHAS. — During  1865  and  1866,  Paw- 
nees and  Omahas  attacked  and  murdered  many  settlers  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  Kansas. 

In  April,  1867,  United  States  troops  under  General 
Hancock  totally  destroyed  an  Indian  village  of  300  lodges, 
on  Pawnee  Fork.  The  Indians,  by  way  of  retaliation,  as. 
sailed  the  whole  Kansas  frontier.  Travel  on  the  overland 
routes  through  Kansas  to  New  Mexico  and  Colorado  was 
almost  entirely  stopped. 

WAE  WITH  THE  CHEYENNES,  AEAPAHOES,  AND  KIOWAS. — 
In  June  these  tribes  attacked  the  frontier  of  Kansas,  and 
the  engineering  parties  on  the  Kansas  Pacific  Railroad  in 
the  western  part  of  the  State.  Eight  companies  of  Kansas 
volunteer  cavalry  were  organized,  and  proceeded  against 
the  Indians.  August  21st,  a  portion  of  the  Tenth  cavalry 

(67) 


68  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

was  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  Indians  on  the  Republi- 
can river.  After  bard  fighting  by  this  little  force  of  150, 
they  were  forced  to  retreat.  The  Indian  loss  was  150. 
The  whites  lost  three  killed  and  35  wounded.  The  Eigh- 
teenth and  Seventh  Kansas  cavalry  engaged  in  battle  with 
the  same  Indians,  signally  defeating  them. 

RAID  OF  1868. — Notwithstanding  a  treaty  of  peace  made 
in  October,  1867,  the  Cheyennes  and  Arapahoes  400  strong, 
after  being  armed  by  the  Government,  attacked  the  fron- 
tier settlements  of  southwest  Kansas  early  in  the  spring, 
raiding  the  country  as  far  east  as  Council  Grove. 

At  about  the  same  time  a  large  party  of  Cheyennes 
raided  all  that  country  between  the  Saline  and  Republican 
—  60  miles  in  width  —  killing  and  scalping  40  whites. 

In  September,  1868,  Governor  Crawford  caused  five 
companies  of  militia  to  be  organized,  which  patrolled  the 
frontier  from  Nebraska  to  Wichita,  doing  much  efficient 
service  amid  great  hardships. 

GENERAL  SULLEY'S  CAMPAIGN. — In  September,  General 
Sulley,  with  nine  companies  of  cavalry,  went  to  the  south 
of  the  Arkansas,  made  war  on  the  families  and  stock  of 
the  Indians,  in  order  to  draw  the  war-parties  from  Kansas. 
On  the  21st  he  met  a  war-party  of  Indians  and  killed  17 
of  their  number. 

NINETEENTH  KANSAS  CAVALRY. — This  regiment  of  1200 
men,  commanded  by  Governor  Crawford  in  person,  took 
the  field  in  the  Indian  territory,  but  failed  to  bring  the 
Indians  to  battle. 

BATTLE  OF  THE  WACHITA. — At  midnight  of  the  27th  of 
November,  1868,  General  Custer  surprised  and  attacked 
the  Indians  on  the  Wachita  river.  The  fighting  lasted 
several  hours;  the  Indians  fighting  from  ravines  and 


INDIAN   WARS.  69 

timber.  Chiefs  Black  Kettle  and  White  Kock  with  101 
warriors  were  killed.  Fifty-one  lodges,  together  with 
many  horses  and  mules,  were  captured.  Ouster  lost  21 
killed  and  14  wounded. 

CLOSE  OF  THE  WAR. — The  Indians  did  not  recover  their 
defeat  at  Wachita,  but  fell  back,  and  were  finally  forced  to 
make  a  treaty  entirely  satisfactory  to  the  whites. 

These  Indian  wars  cost  Kansas  more  than  a  thousand 
lives,  and  a  million  dollars  to  individuals,  retarding  settle- 
ment for  many  years. 

Incursions  into  southwestern  Kansas  continued  from 
time  to  time  till  1878,  since  which  time  the  Indians  have 
been  comparatively  at  peace. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

IN  MEMORIAM. 

COLONEL  JAMES  MONTGOMERY.* — Colonel  James  Mont- 
gomery was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1814.  He  was  a  cousin  of 
Richard  Montgomery,  who  fell  at  the  storming  of  Quebec. 
He  received  an  excellent  academic  education.  He  mi- 
grated to  Kentucky  in  1837,  where  he  taught  school  several 
years.  He  lived  in  Missouri  one  year,  and  then  came  to 
Kansas,  locating  in  Linn  county,  about  five  miles  west  of 
Mound  City.  Like  John  Brown,  he  was  a  praying  fighter, 
hence  a  dangerous  enemy.  He  served  as  colonel  during 
the  civil  war,  at  the  close  of  which  he  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Linn  county,  where  he  died,  and  was  buried  December 
6th,  1871. 

JAMES  H.  LANE. — Born  in  Lawrenceburg,  Ind.,  June 
22, 1814.  Little  is  known  of  his  early  life.  He  was  restive, 
and  not  fond  of  books.  He  served  as  colonel  of  the 
Third  Regiment  Indiana  Volunteers,  and  did  good  service, 
in  the  early  campaign  of  General  Taylor  in  the  Mexican 
war.  He  subsequently  became  Lieutenant  Governor  of 
Indiana,  and  later  a  member  of  Congress  from  that  State. 
In  Kansas  he  became  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  most 
radical  faction  of  the  Free-State  men.  When  the  State 
was  admitted  to  the  Union  he  was  chosen  Senator,  in  1861. 
During  the  rebellion  he  took  an  active  part  in  recruiting 
for  the  United  States  service.  Because  of  his  irregular 

*Kead  "James  Montgomery,"  Part  2,  (Moody's  Poem.) 

(70) 


IN  MEM  OKI  AM.  71 

methods  in  this  work,  he  incurred  the  enmity  of  the  Gov- 
ernors of  Kansas.  He  was  finally  commissioned  Brigadier 
General  of  volunters.  In  1864-65  he  was  again  elected 
to  the  United  States  Senate.  He  took  sides  with  Presi- 
'dent  Johnson  in  his  contest  with  Congress.  Upon  his  re- 
turn to  Kansas,  finding  his  influence  gone,  he  committed 
suicide,  July  1,  1866  —  living,  however,  till  the  llth.  His 
body  was  laid  to  rest  at  Lawrence,  where  a  plain  white 
shaft  with  the  inscription  "Lane"  marks  his  resting-place. 
"His  faults,  which  were  many,  may  well  find  sepulture 
with  his  mouldering  dust.  His  virtues  are  enshrined  ju 
the  hearts  of  the  thousands  all  over  Kansas  who  still  revere 
his  memory  as  their  great  leader,  counselor,  and  friend." 

BIOGRAPHY    OF    JOHN    BROWN. 

John  Brown,  styled  "Osawatornie,"  was  born  in  Torring- 
ton,  Conn.,  May  9,  1800,  and  was  hanged  at  Charlestown, 
Va.,  (now  West  Virginia,)  on  December  2, 1859.  He  was 
fifth  in  descent  from  Peter  Brown,  who  landed  at  Plymouth, 
Mass.,  from  the  Mayflower,  Dec.  11,  1620.  He  received 
a  strictly  religious  education,  and  at  the  age  of  19  went  to 
Plainfield,  Mass.,  with  the  intention  of  entering  the  Cal- 
vinistic  ministry,  but  an  affection  of  the  eyes  compelled 
him  to  return  to  his  father's  home,  at  Hudson,  Ohio,  where 
he  became  a  tanner,  as  was  his  father  before  him. 

In  1840  he  embarked  in  the  wool  trade,  and  six  years 
afterward  removed  to  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  opened  a 
wool  warehouse.  He  attempted  to  establish  a  system  of 
wool  grading,  which  drove  his  New  England  customers  to 
buying  direct  from  the  producers  in  the  West,  whereupon 
he  took  a  cargo  of  wool  to  London,  sold  it  for  half  its  value, 
and  returned  a  ruined  man. 

In  1849  he  removed  to  North  Elba,  Essex  county,  N.  Y., 


72  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

where  he  attempted  to  found  a  negro  colony,  he  having 
for  years  harbored  the  thought  of  becoming  the  liberator 
of  the  Southern  slaves ;  but  the  inclement  climate  and  stub- 
born soil  were  too  much  for  the  colonists,  and  the  project 
was  a  failure. 

In  1854  his  four  eldest  sons  migrated  to  Kansas  and  set- 
tled in  Lykins  county,  about  eight  miles  from  the  village  of 
Osawatomie.  As  they  were  abolitionists  they  were  presently 
harassed  and  plundered  by  the  "border-ruffians"  of  that 
day,  and  to  their  support  went  John  Brown  with  a  store 
of  arms  and  ammunition.  Trained  by  a  life  of  toil  to  en- 
dure hardships,  tough  and  sinewy  of  body,  strictly  tem- 
perate in  his  habits,  and  a  brave,  resolute,  and  God-fearing 
man,  he  was  singularly  fitted  to  become  a  leader  in  the 
rough  encounters  which  marked,  the  border  warfare  of 
1854-56. 

After  some  desultory  fighting  which  developed  his 
powers  of  generalship,  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  1856, 
a  body  of  250  Missourians  marched  upon  the  town  of  Osa- 
watomie, which  was  held  by  Brown  with  only  thirty  men, 
and  there,  by  his  vigorous  defense  and  masterly  tactics,  he 
earned  his  sobriquet. 

During  the  next  two  years  he  devoted  his  energies  to 
training  men  for  what  he  declared  the  inevitable  appeal 
to  arms  to  wipe  out  slavery.  About  10  o'clock  on  the 
night  of  Sunday,  October  16,  1859,  he  with  three  of  his 
sons,  19  other  whites  and  5  negroes  entered  the  village  of 
Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  where  stood  a  United  States  arsenal 
containing  between  100,000  and  200,000  stand  of  arms, 
which  he  intended  for  the  use  of  the  thousands  of  slaves 
whom  he  thought  would  hasten  to  join  him.  Brown  took 
possession  of  the  arsenal,  which  by  nightfall  of  the  next 


IN  MEMORIAM.  73 

day  was  surrounded  by  Virginia  militia,  and,  after  fight- 
ing bravely,  Brown  with  a  remaining  force  of  three  whites 
and  a  few  blacks,  changed  his  quarters  to  an  adjoining 
engine  house.  At  7  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  October 
18,  this  refuge  was  taken  by  storm,  and  Brown,  fighting 
desperately  to  the  last,  was  struck  down  by  a  sabre-stroke, 
and  while  prostrate  on  the  ground  was  twice  bayoneted. 

On  the  27th  his  trial  for  "conspiring  with  negroes  to 
produce  insurrection,  for  treason  against  the  common- 
wealth of  Virginia,  and  for  murder,"  began ;  four  days 
afterward  he  was  condemned  to  be  hanged.  On  the 
morning  of  his  execution  he  left  the  jail  "  with  a  radiant 
countenance  and  the  step  of  a  conqueror,"  pausing  for 
a  moment  by  the  door  to  kiss  a  negro  child  held  up  to  him 
by  its  mother.  He  met  his  death  with  perfect  composure 
and  tranquility.  His  body  was  buried  at  North  Elba, 
where  Wendell  Phillips  pronounced  the  funeral  oration. 
The  whole  country  was  alive  with  excitement,  and  the 
song  "John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave" 
served  greatly  to  stir  up  the  patriotism  of  the  North  when 
the  gun  fired  at  Sumter  gave  the  signal  for  civil  war. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

PEACE. 

At  the  close  of  the  civil  war,  Kansas  experienced  com- 
parative peace.  For  twelve  years  bloody  internecine 
strife  had  held  sway.  That  which  costs  most  is  usually 
most  highly  prized.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  this  people  love 
Kansas,  and  that  the  combined  energies  of  a  people  who 
knew  not  the  word  failure  have  placed  Kansas  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  sisterhood  of  States?  There  are  no  thrilling 
events  to  chronicle  during  this  era  ;  but  silent  forces  make 
largely  the  history  of  a  commonwealth.  No  attempts  will 
be  made  to  record,  in  order,  the  development  during  its 
era  of  peace.  We  have  only  space  for  a  brief  mention  of 
a  few  institutions  in  which  the  average  Kansan  takes 
special  pride. 

KANSAS  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. —  Secretary  F.  G. 
Adams  contributes  the  following  interesting  facts:  "The 
Kansas  State  Historical  Society  was  established  in  1875, 
at  the  suggestion  of  the  Kansas  Editors  and  Publishers 
Association.  At  a  meeting  of  that  body  in  Manhattan, 
April  7,  1875,  on  motion  of  Hon.  D.  W.  Wilder  a  reso- 
lution was  adopted  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to 
organize  the  Society,  'for  the  purpose  of  saving  the  present 
and  past  records  of  our  twenty-one  years  of  eventful  his- 
tory.' The  committee  was  composed  as  follows :  F.  P. 
Baker,  D.  R.  Anthony,  John  A.  Martin,  Sol.  Miller,  and 
George  A.  Crawford.  Tiie  Society  was  organized  the  De- 

(74) 


PEACE.  75 

comber  following.  Seventeen  years  of  Kansas  history  has 
been  added  to  the  twenty-one  years  named  in  the  resolu- 
tion passed  by  the  editors.  The  collections  of  the  Histori- 
cal Society  have  been  kept  in  the  State  House  at  Topeka 
from  the  beginning.  By  law  the  Society  has  been  made 
the  trustee  of  the  State,  and  its  library  and  collections  are 
the  property  of  the  State,  for  the  free  use  of  the  people.  In 
the  seventeen  years  of  its  work  the  Society  has  gathered  a 
library  consisting,  according  to  the  report  of  1891,  of 
12,950  volumes  of  bound  books,  11,414:  bound  newspaper 
files,  and  40,152  unbound  books  and  pamphlets,  making 
in  all  a  library  of  64,516  volumes.  The  books  and  pam- 
phlets consist  of  all  that  have  been  published  in  Kansas, 
including  the  documents  of  the  State,  the  publications  of 
the  State  institutions,  and'  books  issued  by  private  authors 
and  publishers.  The  publications  of  churches,  schools,  and 
societies  of  every  kind  are  brought  into  this  library.  Of 
the  newspaper  volumes  in  the  library  8,412  are  of  Kansas 
newspapers.  The  Society  has,  during  the  seventeen  years 
of  its  existence,  been  receiving  and  binding  up  every  issue 
of  every  paper  and  periodical  published  in  Kansas,  with 
very  few  exceptions. 

"Reading  libraries  do  not  generally  contain  pamphlets, 
but  in  a  library  of  historical  reference,  pamphlets  are 
found  invaluable.  Almost  all  the  reports  of  societies  and 
institutions  are  issued  in  pamphlet  form.  They  contain 
the  exact  details  of  the  history  of  the  work  of  the  bodies 
issuing  them.  Each  shows  what  has  been  the  work  of 
some  band  of  thoughtful,  zealous  and  progressive  people 
in  organized  effort,  during  the  period  covered  by  such  re- 
port. The  reports  of  charitable  organizations,  schools, 
colleges,  educational  conventions,  missionary  associations, 


76  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

scientific  bodies,  of  persons  engaged  in  scientific,  social 
and  economic  studies,  in  labor  organizations,  and  of  people 
engaged  in  all  the  different  social  and  business  enterprises 
which  mark  the  present  active  and  progressive  age.  Yery 
many  of  the  more  valuable  publications  of  the  U.  S.  Gov- 
ernment and  of  the  State  governments  are  in  pamphlet 
form.  Many  of  these  are  of  great  value  and  show  the 
result  of  original  scientific  research  and  of  industrial  ex- 
periments. 

"The  library  contains  many  thousand  pages  of  manu- 
script. Manuscripts  of  early  missionaries,  and  persons 
connected  with  missionary  affairs,  and  of  narratives  and 
reminiscences  of  the  early  Kansas  pioneers.  The  galleries 
of  the  Society  contain  portraits  of  the  early  Governors, 
public  men  of  Kansas  and  of  many  early  pioneers,  and 
hundreds  of  such  portraits  are  contained  in  cases  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Society.  Hundreds  of  relics  illustrative  of 
history  are  contained  in  the  collection." 

STATE  REFORM  SCHOOL.* — This  school  is  three  miles 
north  of  Topeka,  on  160  acres  of  land  donated  by  Topeka 
and  Shawnee  county.  The  buildings  consist  of  main 
building,  two  cottages,  chapel,  engine  house,  bakery,  hos- 
pital, and  green -house.  It  was  opened  on  a  small  scale, 
June  6,  1882.  In  July,  1892,  there  were  enrolled  220 
boys.  Incorrigibles  are  not  admitted  as  formerly,  but 
those  only  who  have  committed  crime  for  which  they  are 
liable  to  imprisonment. 

STATE  INDUSTRIAL  SCHOOL  FOR  GIRLS. —  This  institution 
is  located  at  Beloit,  Mitchell  county.  The  building  is 
a  three-story  stone  structure,  erected  on  eighty  acres  of 
land  donated  by  the  city  of  Beloit.  It  had  its  beginning 

•  Read  "The  State  Reform  School,"  Part  2. 


PEACE.  77 

under  the  auspices  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union,  Feb.  1st,  1888.  The  need  of  State  aid  for 
the  protection  and  training  of  wayward  girls  became  evi- 
dent, and  the  Legislature  of  1889  appropriated  funds  for 
the  erection  of  the  present  substantial  building.  The  num- 
ber of  inmates  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1892, 
reached  one  hundred.  The  scope  of  the  work  in  the  school 
is  designed  to  be  three-fold,  viz. :  Physical,  in  the  mastery 
of  the  details  of  housekeeping;  mental,  in  acquiring  an 
education  that  will  assist  the  pupil  in  the  ordinary  vocations 
of  life  ;  and  moral,  by  proper  influences  thrown  about  them 
during  the  impressionable  portion  of  their  lives.  These 
girls  soon  acquire  a  pride  in  making  the  school  a  happy 
home,  and  in  honoring  their  benefactor,  the  State  of  Kan- 
sas. This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  praiseworthy 
institutions  of  the  State. 

STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL. — This  institution  is  situated  at 
Emporia.  The  Legislature  granted  34,400  acres  of  land, 
and  the  minimum  price  was  fixed  at  five  dollars  per  acre. 
The  school  opened  in  1865,  with  eighteen  pupils.  The  en- 
rollment of  1891  was  nearly  1,400.  A  diploma  from  this 
institution  is  a  life  certificate  to  teach  in  Kansas.  Tuition 
is  free.  Railroad  fare  in  excess  of  three  dollars  is  refunded 
to  all  Kansas  students.  "In  buildings,  in  equipment,  in 
the  ability  of  its  faculty,  in  the  enthusiasm  of  its  students, 
in  the  thoroughness  of  its  work,  the  school  now  stands  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  best  in  the  West,  and  as  most  worthy 
the  confidence  and  patronage  of  the  good  people  through- 
out the  State." 

THE  KANSAS  STATE  AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE  was  located 
at  Manhattan,  in  1863.  The  objects  of  the  institution  are 
outlined  in  the  report  of  the  Regents  in  1873.  "To  im- 


78  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

part  a  liberal  education  to  those  who  desire  to  qualify 
themselves  for  the  actual  practice  of  agriculture,  the  me- 
chanic trades,  or  industrial  arts.  Prominence  shall  be 
given  to  the  several  branches  of  learning  which  relate  to 
agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts  according  to  the  direct- 
ness and  value  of  the  relation."  Tuition  is  free.  Pupils 
are  admitted  on  having  passed  an  examination  of  a  re- 
quired standard.  Encouragement  is  given  to  daily  habits 
of  manual  labor,  during  the  college  course.  Only  one 
hour's  practice  is  required  per  day,  but  students  are 
encouraged  to  make  use  of  the  opportunities  for  adding 
to  their  means  and  ability. 

KANSAS  STATE  UNIVERSITY. —  On  the  day  that  Kansas 
was  admitted  into  the  Union,  Congress  donated  46,080 
acres  of  land  for  a  State  University  in  Kansas.  In  1863 
the  question  came  up  in  the  Legislature  as  to  the  location 
of  this  desirable  institution.  The  fact  that  Amos  A.  Law- 
rence had  donated  $10,000,  with  accrued  interest,  and  that 
Lawrence  proposed  to  give  to  the  State  forty  acres  of  land 
for  a  building-site,  decided  the  location  in  favor  of  Law- 
rence. The  University  of  Kansas  was  the  first  State  insti- 
tution in  the  United  States  to  adopt  the  plan  of  co-education 
of  the  sexes. 

RAILROADS. — Kansas  people  commenced  early  to  build 
railroads,  the  first  rail  having  been  laid  in  Doniphan 
county,  opposite  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  in  March,  1860. 
Because  of  the  large  increase  in  agricultural  products,  and 
the  rapid  development  of  the  mines  of  the  West,  Kansas 
is  now  gridironed  with  railroads.  It  is  estimated  that 
there  are  now  (1892)  nearly  9,000  miles  of  railroads  in 
actual  operation  within  the  State. 

GROWTH  IN    POPULATION  AND   WEALTH. — Through   the 


PEACE.  79 

kindness  of  Secretary  Mohler,  we  are  enabled  to  give  the 
following : 

"Kansas  possesses  a  wealth  of  resources  in  soil  and 
climate  which  is  destined  to  place  her  among  the  most 
wealthy  and  prosperous  States  of  the  Union.  The  growth 
in  wealth  and  population  is  remarkable.  In  1880  the 
total  assessed  valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  of 
the  State,  including  railroads,  was  $160,570,761.43;  in 
1890  it  was  $347,717,218.42;  increase  in  decade,  $186,- 
146,457.39.  The  true  value  was  about  four  times  that,  or 
$1,200,000,000.  The  population  in  1880  was  996,096; 
in  1890,  1,427,096 ;  being  an  increase  of  431,000.  The 
assessed  valuation  per  capita  in  1880  was  $161.20;  in 
1890  it  had  increased  to  $243.70. 

"Agriculture. — The  agricultural  wealth  has  also  grown 
at  a  corresponding  rate.  In  1880  the  area  in  field  crops 
was  8,868,884  acres,  and  the  value  of  farm  products  was 
$63,111,634.  In  1891  the  area  in  field  crops  was  17,518,- 
018  acres,  and  the  value  of  farm  products,  $121,695,245. 
In  1890  the  aggregate  number  of  horses,  mules,  sheep  and 
swine  was  5,640,476,  valued  at  $113,533,342.  The  prod- 
uct of  live-stock  animals  slaughtered  and  sold  for  slaughter, 
etc.,  increased  in  value  from  $16,933,255  in  1880  to  $39,- 
998,225  in  1890.  As  a  wheat-producing  State  Kansas 
ranks  first,  her  product  this  year  (1892)  being  about  sev- 
enty millions  of  bushels.  As  a  corn-producing  State  she 
ranks  fourth  —  Iowa,  Missouri  and  Illinois  surpassing  her 
in  the  amount  of  corn  grown.  In  the  production  of  oats 
she  also  takes  about  fourth  place. 

"As  a  fruit-growing  State  Kansas  has  also  come  to  the 
front.  Her  soil  and  climate  in  the  eastern  half  of  the 
State  is  especially  adapted  to  the  apple,  pear,  cherry,  apri- 


80  KANSAS  HISTORY. 

cot,  and  for  all  kinds  of  small  fruits;  while  in  southern 
Kansas  peaches  are  also  grown  quite  successfully. 

"The  healthfulness  of  the  climate,  fertility  of  the  soil, 
the  character  of  -the  people  for  intelligence  and  sobriety, 
make  Kansas  one  of  the  first  States  in  the  Union." 

CHURCHES. — In  1890,  Kansas  had  3,803  church  organ- 
izations, and  2,339  church  edifices,  with  an  aggregate  value 
of  church  property  amounting  to  $8,801,870.. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. — The  records  of  the  State  Superintend- 
ent show  that,  as  in  everything  else,  Kansas  has  made 
phenomenal  headway  educationally.  In  1860  the  total 
amount  raised  for  school  purposes  was  $19,212.  There 
were  only  7,029  persons  of  school  age.  State  Superintend- 
ent Goodnow,  in  a  review  of  educational  progress  in  1863, 
said : 

"To  retard  the  course  of  education  we  had  first  the 
border  troubles  of  1855  and  1856  ;  the  financial  crisis  of 
1857;  the  drouth  of  1860;  and  lastly,  the  rebellion  of 
1861.  If  with  one-seventh  of  our  population  in  the  army, 
with  the  excitement  of  guerrilla  raids,  we  can  show  con- 
tinual progress  in  the  work  of  education,  no  higher  compli- 
ment can  be  paid  to  -the  virtue,  intelligence,  and  heroism 
of  our  citizens.  Truly,  we  can  thank  God  and  take  cour- 
age." 

Kansas  had  in  1891,  11,188  schools;  a  school  popula- 
tion of  497,022,  with  an  enrollment  of  389,570,  and  an  at- 
tendance of  246,102.  During  the  year  189  school-houses 
were  built.  With  her  9,041  school  buildings  and  11,240 
rooms,  and  an  estimated  value  of  school  property  aggre- 
gating $10,298,061,  Kansas  makes  a  showing  of  which  her 
people  may  well  be  proud. 

TEMPERANCE. —  It  has  been  said  that  "Kansas  leads  the 


PEACE.  81 

van  for  reform."  In  early  Territorial  days  a  law  was  en- 
acted "To  regulate  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors."  In 
November,  1880,  a  prohibitory  amendment  to  the  State 
Constitution  was  submitted  to  the  people.  The  vote  cast 
on  the  amendment  was  176,606.  The  majority  in  favor 
of  the  amendment  was  7,998.  It  is  useless  for  anyone  to 
deny  the  fact  that  the  sentiment  in  favor  of  prohibition  in 
Kansas  has  steadily  increased,  and  that  drunkenness  and 
crime  have  been  materially  lessened.  The  teaching  of 
temperance  in  the  public  schools  is,  by  statute,  made  com- 
pulsory. 


PART  II. 

A   COLLECTION   FROM   KANSAS   AUTHORS. 


COLLECTIONS. 


A   KANSAS    WISH. 

May  Kansas  skies  e'er  shower  on  you 
Golden  gifts  from  their  vaults  of  blue ; 

May  Kansas  winds  that  ceaseless  blow, 
Now  fierce  and  high,  now  soft  and  low, 
Bring  with  them  in  their  course  so  free 
Bright,  fadeless  crowns  of  praise  for  thee. 

May  thy  sorrows  vanish  e'er  scarce  they're  found, 

Like  Kansas  snow ; 
And  leave  no  trace  on  life's  background 

As  they  lightly  go. 

While  thy  joys  shall  cling  with  lingering  hold, 

Like  Kansas  wealth  ; 
And  their  mark  remain  in  the  letters  bold 

Of  springing  health. 

May  the  force  of  thy  foes  be  quickly  spent, 

Like  Kansas  storms ; 
And  no  harm  to  thee  with  its  strength  be  blent, 

Whate'er  its  forms. 

While  thy  friends  stand  faithful,  firm  and  true, 
Like  Kansas,  soil ; 

(85) 


86  A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Nor  quickly  change  for  the  old  the  new 
In  life's  turmoil. 

May  the  Kansas  air  thy  heart  imbue  , 

With  a  spirit  pure  as  the  Kansas  dew ; 

May  the  boundless  prairies  stretching  here, 
Now  fresh  and  green,  now  brown  and  sere, 

So  lift  thy  soul  that  there  shall  be 

A  broader,  larger  life  for  thee. 

CHARLES  MOREAU  HARGER. 


A  KANSAS   COLLECTION. 

For  about  four  years  the  writer  has  been  engaged  in  the 
collection  of  a  Kansas  library.  A  shelf  was  at  first  set 
apart  for  the  reception  of  Kansas  books.  The  shelf  over- 
flowed and  became  two.  The  two  have  now  become  a 
reasonably  filled  alcove.  As  these  books  have  gradually 
increased  in  number,  enthusiasm  for  all  that  pertains  to 
Kansas  has  correspondingly  increased.  They  have  been  a 
constant  source  of  pleasure,  and  a  pure  spirit  of  charity 
would  prompt  him  to  enter  upon  a  crusade  in  favor  of 
a  Kansas  shelf  in  every  Kansas  library. 

The  reasons  why  every  Kansan  should  have  a  collection 
of  Kansas  books  are  many. 

1.  We  cannot  have  an  adequate  knowledge  of  what 
Kansas  is,  and  especially  has  been,  unless  we  know  some- 
thing of  her  books. 

Take  for  instance  that  heroic  period  from  '55  to  '58, 
when  the  prelude  to  the  war  was  being  fought  on  Kan- 
sas soil.  We  are  now  a  third  of  a  century  from  those 


A   KANSAS   COLLECTION.  87 

times.  Speak  of  John  Brown,  John  Doy,  Judge  Lecompte, 
Sheriff  Jones,  Benjamin  F.  Stringfellow,  Senator  Atchi- 
son,  Charles  Robinson,  James  H.  Lane,  James  Redpath, 
A.  D.  Richardson,  Richard  J.  Hinton,  Governors  Geary, 
Reeder,  the  murder  of  Barber,  the  raids  on  Lawrence,  the 
wild  propensities  of  the  Missourians  to  vote,  the  Potta- 
watomie  murders — the  hundred  other  men  and  things  that 
were  then  causing  the  eyes  of  the  world  to  be  turned  to 
Kansas,  and  the  average  Kansan  will  gaze  blankly  at  you, 
and  wonder  of  what  manner  of  things  you  are  speaking. 
He  can  only  appreciate  and  know  Kansas  history  by  read- 
ing such  books  as  Mrs.  Robinson's  "Kansas;  Its  Interior 
and  Exterior  Life,"  Phillips's  "Conquest  of  Kansas  by 
Missouri  and  her  Allies,"  or  Redpath's  "Life  of  John 
Brown." 

2.  Again,  State  pride  should  induce  us  to  collect  Kan- 
sas books.     The  Kansas  "spirit "is  spoken  of  all  over  the 
country.     We  are  in  Kansas  because  we  believe  in  her, 
and  are  not  afraid  to  say  so  to  any  and  all  inquirers. 

"  Kansas  more,  but  never  less  — 
Kansas  all  the  time," 

is  our  motto.  We  may  bore  our  friends  in  the  East  by 
our  raptures,  we  may  slightly  gloss  over  defects — we 
wish  that  they  were  not  here,  and  presto  !  they  vanish ; 
we  may  exaggerate,  the  slightest  particle,  when  we  are  ex- 
tolling her  merits,  but  beneath  it  all  there  is  honest  faith 
and  pride  in  Kansas. 

3.  Perhaps  it  will  be  counted  selfish  by  some,  and  yet  I 
do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  for  the  sake  of  showing  our  ap- 
preciation of  the  writers  of  the  State,  we  ought  to  have  a 
collection  of  Kansas  books.     Who  have  written  our  books  ? 
Usually  they  have  been  written  by  the  men  and  women. 


88  A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

who  have  labored  most  faithfully  as  newspaper  writers  in 
the  interest  of  our  State.  It  would  astonish  you  to  know 
how  many  of  our  books  have  been  written  by  editors.  In 
the  pages  of  these  books  is  to  be  found  the  history  of  a 
crime  as  atrocious  as  that  described  by  Carlyle,  more  des- 
picable than  that  which  so  aroused  the  indignation  of 
Victor  Hugo.  The  story  they  tell  is  that  of  — 

"Kansas,  most  loved  of  Fortune's  guests, 

Child  of  our  hopes  and  fears ; 

Kansas,  whose  genius  ever  wrests, 

Victory  from  Fortune's  tears." 

And  so,  as  we  make  the  collection  and  learn  the  story,  our 
sympathies  are  broadened,  our  faculties  are  energized,  and 
we  receive  with  new  faith  the  old  doctrine  of  the  ultimate 
triumph  of  right.  J.  W.  D.  ANDERSON. 


NOW  I  LAY  ME. 

[The  Wichita  Eagle  says  the  following  poem  was  left  at  the  office  by 
an  unknown  man  who  came  to  ask  for  work.] 

Near  the  camp-fire's  flickering  light, 

In  my  blanket  bed  I  lie, 
Gazing  through  the  shades  of  night 

And  the  twinkling  stars  on  high. 
O'er  me  spirits  in  the  air 

Silent  vigils  seem  to  keep, 
As  I  breathe  my  childhood  prayers 
"Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep." 

Sadly  sings  the  whippoorwill 
In  the  boughs  of  yonder  tree, 

Laughingly  the  dancing  rill 
(Swells  the  midnight  melody. 


NO IV  1  LAY  ME.  §9 

Foeman  may  be  lurking  near 

In  the  canon  dark  and  deep  — 
Low  I  breathe  in  Jesus'  ear 
"I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  keep." 

Mid  those  stars  one  face  I  see  — 

One  the  Saviour  took  away — 
Mother,  who  in  infancy 

Taught  my  baby  lips  to  pray. 
Her  sweet  spirit  hovers  near 

In  this  lonely  mountain  brake  — 
Take  me  to  her  Saviour  dear, 
"If  I  should  die  before  I  wake." 

Fainter  grows  the  flickering  light, 

As  each  ember  slowly  dies ; 
Plaintively  the  birds  of  night 

Fill  the  air  with  sudden  cries ; 
Over  me  they  seem  to  cry  : 

You  may  never  more  awake. 
Low  I  lisp  :  If  I  should  die, 
"I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take." 

"  Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep ; 
I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  keep. 
If  I  should  die  before  I  wake, 
I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  take." 


90  A    COLLECTION  FROM  KAXSAS  AUTHORS. 


KANSAS-DAY   SONG. 

TUNE  — "America." 

God  bless  our  glorious  State, 
Pride  of  our  nation  great, 

Home  of  the  free. 
O  Kansas,  brave  and  fair ! 
No  State  with  thee  compare ; 
Thy  praises  we  declare, 

We  sing  of  thee. 

When  o'er  our  mighty  land, 
With  a  relentless  hand, 

Wrong  held  stern  sway, 
Then  Kansas  as  a  star, 
Shone,  led  as  conqueror; 
No  more  can  slavery  mar, 

Nor  bring  dismay. 

Undaunted,  true  and  brave, 
She  sent  her  sons  to  save 

Her  country's  name. 
A  record  clear  she  shows, 
That  ever  brighter  grows  — 
A  radiance  ever  throws 

On  page  of  fame. 

God  bless  our  gallant  State ! 
Honored  and  loved  and  great, 
Both  rich  and  just. 


THE  KANSAS  DUGOUT.  91 

Her  loyal  people  we, 
Beneath  her  banner  free 
Rejoice  in  liberty, 
In  God  we  trust. 

LAURA  E.  NEWELL. 


THE  KANSAS  DUGOUT. 

Stuck  in  a  Kansas  hillside,  far  away, 

Is  a  cabin  built  of  sod,  and  made  to  stay ; 

Through  the  window-like  embrasure 

Pours  the  mingled  gold  and  azure 
Of  the  morning  of  a  gorgeous  Kansas  day. 

Round  the  cabin,  clumps  of  roses,  here  and  there, 
With  their  mild  and  welcome  fragrance  fill  the  air, 

And  the  love  of  heaven  settles 

On  their  pensive  pink-lined  petals, 
As  the  angels  come  and  put  them  in  their  hair. 

Blue-eyed  children  round  the  cabin  chase  the  day ; 
They  are  learning  life's  best  lesson  —  how  to  stay, 

To  be  tireless  and  restful ; 

And  the  antelope  look  wistful, 
And  they  want  to  join  the  children  in  their  play. 

Fortune -wrecked,  the  parents  sought  the  open  West, 
Leaving  happy  homes  and  friends  they  love  the  best ; 

Homes  in  cities  bright  and  busy, 

That  responded  to  the  dizzy, 
To  the  whirling  and  tumultuous  unrest. 


92  A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Oft  it  happens  nnto  families  and  men 

That  they  need  must  touch  the  mother  earth  again ; 

Rising  rugged  and  reliant, 

Like  Antaeus,  the  old  giant  — 
Then  they  dare  and  do  great  things,  and  not  till  then. 

As  around  his  neck  the  arms  of  children  twine, 
Then  the  father  says  :  "  Have  courage,  children  mine ; 
Though  the  skies  around  thee  blacken, 
Courage! — the  gales  will  slacken, 
And  the  future  with  its  promise  shall  be  thine." 

Happy  prairie  children !  Time  with  rapid  wings 
To  the  earnest  soul  the  golden  trophy  brings. 

As  the  Trojan  said,  "Durate 

Vosmet  rebus  et  servate," 
Hold  yourselves  in  hand  for  higher,  nobler  things. 

IBONQUILL. 


MIS'  SMITH. 

All  day  she  hurried  to  get  through, 
The  same  as  lots  of  wiminin  do ; 
Sometimes  at  night  her  husban'  said, 
"Ma,  ain  't  you  goin'  to  come  to  bed  ?  " 
And  then  she  'd  kinder  give  a  hitch, 
And  pause  half-way  between  a  stitch, 
And  sorter  sigh,  and  say  that  she 
Was  ready  as  she  'd  ever  be, 

She  reckoned. 


KANSAS   COURAGE.  93 

And  so  the  years  went  one  by  one, 
And  somehow  she  was  never  done ; 
And  when  the  angel  said,  as  how 
"Mis'  Smith,  it 's  time  you  rested  now," 
She  sorter  raised  her  eyes  to  look 
A  second,  as  a  stitch  she  took ; 
"All  right,  I'm  comin'  now,"  says  she  ; 
"  I  'm  ready  as  I  '11  ever  be, 
I  reckon." 

ALBERT  BIGELOW  PAINE. 


KANSAS  COUKAGE. 

Kansas  does  what  she  starts  out  to  do.  No  weakness. 
No  hesitation.  No  timorous  shivering  on  the  brink.  No 
retreating.  No  doubting.  No  whining.  No  cowardice. 

That  is  why  the  world  loves  her. 

It  would  have  been  easy  to  cower  before  border-ruffian- 
ism and  pro-slavery  from  1854  to  1860;  but  Kansas 
fought.  She  had  started  out  to  establish  freedom,  and 
she  did  it. 

It  would  have  been  easy,  being  so  far  away,  to  have 
done  little  in  the  War  for  the  Union  ;  Kansas  sent  soldiers 
to  every  battle-field,  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  Gettysburg. 
She  had  started  out  to  stand  by  the  Flag,  and  she  did  it. 

It  would  have  been  easy  when  the  war  was  over  to  sit 
down  and  weep  over  ruined  homes,  neglected  farms, 
burned  towns,  and  endless  stretches  of  empty  prairie  ; 
Kansas  went  to  work.  She  had  started  out  to  build  towns 
and  open  farms  and  make  homes,  and  she  did  it. 


94  A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

When  the  grasshoppers  came,  and  the  drouth,  it  would 
have  been  easy  to  give  up  the  struggle  and  go  away ; 
Kansas  stayed.  She  had  started  out  to  possess  the  land 
and  to  make  a  living  out  of  it,  and  she  did  it. 

Other  States  waited  till  they  were  old  to  build  schools 
and  churches  and  universities  and  railroads ;  Kansas  built 
them  in  her  youth.  Slie  had  started  out  to  make  this  a 
place  to  live,  a  place  fitted  up  with  "all  that  adorns  and 
embellishes  civilized  life,"  and  she  did  it. 

Other  States  have  been  afraid  of  the  whisky  traffic,  have 
not  dared  to  fight  it,  or  after  beginning  the  battle  have 
stopped  before  it  was  half  won ;  Kansas  took  it  by  the 
throat  and  held  it  until  it  dropped  in  a  heap,  limp  and 
helpless  and  harmless.  She  had  started  out  to  prohibit 
the  liquor  traffic,  and  she  did  it. 

And  thus  it  has  been  from  the  beginning  of  the  book  to 
the  end,  from  the  preface  to  the  last  page  written.  Kan- 
sas, as  they  say  out  West,  "Don't  fear  nothing."  The 
thing  she  undertakes  is  the  thing  she  does.  The  road  she 
starts  on  is  the  road  she  travels.  She  is  never  discouraged. 
She  never  sulks.  She  never  gets  rattled.  Steadily,  buoy- 
antly, with  tireless  energy,  with  the  keenest  intelligence, 
with  courage  that  no  disaster  can  daunt,  she  is  climbing 
to  the  shining  stars. 

And  the  world  loves  her. 

CHAS.  F.  SCOTT. 


THE    GATES  AJAR.  95 


THE  GATES  AJAR. 

I  have  seen  a  Kansas  sunset  like  a  vision  in  a  dream, 
When  a  halo  was  about  ine  and  a  glory  on  the  stream  ; 
When  the  birds  had  ceased  their  music  and  the  summer 

day  was  done, 

And  prismatic  exhalations  came  a-drifting,  from  the  sun  ; 
And  those  gold  and  purple  vapors,  and  the  holy  stillness 

there, 

Lay  upon  the  peaceful  valley  like  a  silent  evening  prayer. 
And  I  Ve  gazed  upon  that  atmospheric  splendor  of  the 

West, 
Till  it  seemed  to  me  a  gateway  to  the  regions  of  the  blest. 

I  have  seen  a  Kansas  sunrise  like  the  waking  of  a  dream, 
When  every  dewy  blade  of  grass  caught  up  the  golden 

gleam  ; 

When  every  bird  renewed  the  song  he  sang  the  night  before, 
And  all  the  silent,  slumbering  world  returned  to  life  once 

more; 

When  every  burst  of  radiance  called  up  a  throng  of  life, 
And  all  the  living,  waking  world  with  melody  was  rife. 
And  as  that  flood  of  light  and  song  came  floating  down 

the  plain, 
It  seemed  to  me  those  golden  gates  were  opened  wide 

again. 

ALBERT  BIGELOW  PAINE. 


96  A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


HICKORYE  CREEK  LOGIC. 

A  wise  legislator  from  Hickorye  creek, 
Went  up  to  Topeeky  to  furse  an'  kick, 
An'  make  'propriaslmn  bills  all  look  sick; 

An'  he  was  thick 

Ez  compressed  brick, 
This  wise  legislator  from  Hickorye  creek. 

The  bill  fer  the  '  Versity  ketched  his  eye, 
An  '  struck  him  as  bein '  onusu  'ly  high. 
"  An '  twenty-five  thousand  fer  books  !   Oh,  my  ! 

Well  now,  sir,  I 

Jes '  kaint  see  why, 
They  want  all  them  books  fer  to  study  by." 

"How  meny  books  hev  ye  got?  "  sez  he, 
"  Oh,  raisen '  ten  thousand  now,"  sez  we. 
"Fer  five  hundred  students.     W'y  geemunee, 
Now  that  gits  me, 
An'  I  kain't  see 
W  'y  you  don't  read  w  'at  you  Ve  got,"  sez  he. 

FKOM  "HELIANTHUS  ANNUUS." 


LITTLE  THINGS. 

We  call  him  strong  who  stands  unmoved  — 
Calm  as  some  tempest-beaten  rock  — 
When  some  great  trouble  hurls  its  shock ; 


JUDGE  &REWER  ON  KANSAS.  97 

We  say  of  him,  his  strength  is  proved. 
But  when  the  spent  storm  folds  its  wings, 
How  bears  he  then  life's  little  things? 

About  his  brow  we  twine  our  wreath 
Who  seeks  the  battle's  thickest  smoke, 
Braves  flashing  gun  and  sabre-stroke, 

And  scoffs  at  danger,  laughs  at  death : 

We  praise  him  till  the  whole  land  rings  — 
But  is  he  brave  in  little  things? 

But  what  is  life?    Drops  make  the  sea; 
And  petty  cares  and  small  events, 
Small  causes  and  small  consequents, 

Make  up  the  sum  for  you  and  me. 

Then,  O  for  strength  to  meet  the  stings 
That  arm  the  points  of  little  things. 

ELLEN  P.  ALLERTON. 


JUDGE  BKEWER  ON  KANSAS. 

In  my  boyhood's  geography,  Kansas  was  put  down  as  a 
part  of  the  Great  American  Desert,  and  yet  she  has  made 
the  wilderness  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  But  grander 
far  than  any  material  development  has  been  the  pathway 
which  she  has  lined  with  school-house  and  church.  Go 
where  you  will,  through  her  borders,  and  there  stand  be- 
fore you  the  open  doors  of  the  school-house  in  whose  port- 
als stands  the  ever-present  Yankee  school-marm  —  priestess 
of  virtue  and  prophetess  of  knowledge  and  glory ;  while 


98  A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

the  spires  of  her  thousands  of  churches  attest  the  universal 
faith  in  Him  for  whose  worship  our  fathers  crossed  the 
sea.  It  is  no  wonder  that  in  the  past  history  of  the  State 
every  Kansan  glories,  and  in  its  future  believes.  This  is 
the  home  of  the  modern  pilgrim.  Here  is  the  real  puritan. 
Plymouth  Rock  has  been  moved  from  Massachusetts  to 
Kansas,  and  from  this  State  shall  henceforth  flow  the  ideas 
to  rule  the  continent.  It  is  honor  enough  to  have  lived 
in  Kansas  and  been  a  part  of  her  history. 


PAWPAWS  RIPE. 

The  sunny  plains  of  Kansas  dozed 

In  soft  October  haze ; 
The  wayside  leaves  and  grass  disclosed 

Scarce  sign  of  autumn  days. 
The  corn-stalks  bent  their  ears  of  gold, 

To  list  the  cricket's  din  ; 
And  fields  of  sprouting  wheat  foretold 

The  farmer's  laden  bin. 

Many  a  mover's  caravan 

Stretched  westward  far  away, 
As  they  had  moved,  since  spring  began, 

To  where  the  homesteads  lay. 
Their  wagon-sheets  were  snowy  white, 

Their  cattle  sleek  and  stout ; 
Their  children's  merry  faces  bright, 

With  blooming  health  shone  out. 


PAWPAWS  RIPE.  99 

But  ho !  what  apparition  queer 

Is  this  that' looms  in  sight? 
Has  Rip  Yan  Winkle  wandered  here 

Just  from  his  waking  plight  ? 
Has  one  of  the  Lost  Tribes  come  back, 

With  remnant  of  his  band, 
And  eastward  turned  once  more  his  track, 

To  seek  the  Promised  Land  ? 

Beneath  yon  shade  I  '11  sit  me  there, 

Upon  that  bank  of  grass, 
And  inventory,  as  it  were, 

These  nomads,  as  they  pass. 
There  may  be  reason  wise  and  strong, 

Unknown  to  us,  why  they, 
Of  all  the  steady  moving  throng, 

Are  on  the  backward  way. 

A  wagon  of  past  ages,  built 

On  model  lost  to  art ; 
A  dirty,  ragged,  faded  quilt 

Supplied  a  cover's  part. 
Wheels  of  four  sizes,  tireless  now, 

With  many  a  missing  spoke  ; 
A  three-legged  mule,  a  one-horned  cow, 

Tugged  slowly  in  the  yoke. 

A  man  of  five-and-forty  years, 

With  beard  of  grizzled  brown  ; 
A  brirnless  hat  sat  on  his  ears, 

His  hair  strayed  through  the  crown ; 


100          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

His  pants  of  dingy  butternut, 
His  coat  of  tarnished  blue, 

His  feet  with  no  incumbrance  but 
Mismated  boot  and  shoe. 

Six  hungry  curs  of  low  degree 

Sneaked  at  their  master's  heels, 
Or,  underneath  the  axle-tree, 

Kept  measure  with  the  wheels. 
Packed  in  the  feeding-box  behind, 

A  time-worn  jug  is  spied, 
Whose  corn-cob  stopper  hints  the  kind 

Of  nourishment  inside. 

Nine  boys  and  girls  with  rheumy  eyes, 

Stowed  in  with  beds  and  tins, 
Were  all  so  nearly  of  a  size, 

They  might  have  well  been  twins. 
The  mother,  as  a  penance  sore 

For  loss  of  youth  and  hope, 
Seemed  to  have  vowed,  long  years  before, 

To  fast  from  comb  and  soap. 

"  Halloo,  my  friend  !   a  brood  like  that 

Should  head  the  other  way ; 
The  land  is  broad,  and  free,  and  fat  — 

Go  take  it  while  you  may." 
Raising  his  glazed  and  dirty  sleeve, 

He  gave  his  mouth  a  wipe, 
And  answered,  with  a  sighing  heave : 
"Stranger,  pawpaws  is  ripe! 


PAWPAWS  RIPE.  101 

"Don't  tell  me  of  your  corn  and  wheat  — 

What  do  I  care  for  sich  ? 
Do  n't  say  your  schools  is  hard  to  beat, 

And  Kansas  soil  is  rich. 
Stranger,  a  year  's  been  lost  by  me, 

Searchin'  your  Kansas  siles, 
And  not  a  pawpaw  did  I  see, 

For  miles,  and  miles,  and  miles ! 

"Missouri 's  good  enough  for  me; 

The  bottom  timber  's  wide  ; 
The  best  of  livin'  thar  is  free, 

And  spread  on  every  side. 
In  course,  the  health  ain't  good  for  some, 

But  we  're  not  of  that  stripe, 
Hey !  Bet  and  Tobe  !  we  're  gwien  home ! 

Git  up  !     Pawpaws  is  ripe  !  " 

He  cracked  his  whip,  and  off  they  went, 

The  mule  and  cow,  and  dogs. 
I  watched  them  till  they  all  were  blent 

With  distant  haze  and  fogs  ; 
And  as  the  blue  smoke  heavenward  curled 

Up  from  his  corn-cob  pipe, 
He  dreamed  not  of  that  better  world, 

For  here  pawpaws  were  ripe! 

SOL.  MILLER. 


102          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

I/. 

KANSAS. 

(A   RECITATION.) 

Would  you  like  to  hear  me  say 
My  lesson  in  geography? 
Listen,  then,  while  I  begin  it ; 
I  can  give  you  all  that 's  in  it ; 
Ever  word  I  want  to  tell  — 
Teacher  says  I  know  it  well. 

Kansas !  born  amid  the  strife 
Menacing  a  Nation's  life, 
In  the  crimson  tide  baptized  — 
Blood  of  martyrs'  sacrificed  — 
Struggling,  battling,  growing  strong 
In  her  ceaseless  strife  with  wrong, 
Yielding  never  in  the  fight 
Till  the  victory  of  right, 
Kansas  stands  among  her  mates 
One  of  these  United  States ; 
North,  Nebraska  State  is  found, 
Missouri  is  her  eastern  bound 
South,  the  Nation  greets  our  eyes, 
And  Colorado  westward  lies. 

Time  would  fail  to  speak  her  praises, 
Tell  her  worth  and  what  she  raises ; 
Corn  and  cotton,  grains  and  grasses, 
Peanuts,  castor-beans,  molasses, 
Fruit  of  all  kinds,  nuts,  persimmons, 
Gallant  men  and  handsome  women. 


SUNFLOWER   SONG.  103 

To  the  stars  through  clouds  she  rises, 
Conquering  foes  in  all  disguises ; 
Cyclones  threaten  desolation  ; 
Flood  and  tire  bring  devastation ; 
Grasshoppers  have  tried  to  eat  her; 
Whisky  rings  would  fain  defeat  her ; 
But,  borne  onward,  upward  ever, 
May  her  banner  waver  never. 

MAGGIE  A.  KILMER. 


SUNFLOWER  SONG. 
TUNE  —  "  Golden  Slippers." 

[NOTE. — Arrange  a  white  screen  with  holes  cut  the  size  of  children's 
faces;  paint  yellow  leaves  on  screen  around  margin  of  holes;  place  re;il 
sunflower  stalks  in  front  of  screen,  or  make  them  of  sticks  or  weeds 
covered  with  green  paper.  Children  sing  Sunflower  Song  with  faces  in 
holes  forming  center  of  sunflowers.] 

Most  all  the  sunflowers  are  faded  away, 
And  they  do  n't  'spect  to  shine  till  a  warmer  day, 
And  our  broad  green  leaves  that  we  loved  so  well 
Will  be  gathered  for  the  farmer  in  the  morning, 
And  the  long  green  stalks  that  we  had  last  June 
All  got  changed  'cause  it  frosted  so  soon. 
And  the  green  old  earth  that  we  used  to  see 
We  will  all  have  to  leave  in  the  morning. 

CHORUS  : 

Oh  !   dear  golden  sunflowers, 
Oh  !   dear  golden  sunflowers, 
Golden  sunflowers  that 's  gwine  away, 
Becase  they  can't  look  sweet. 


104:          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Oh  !  dear  golden  sunflowers, 
Oh!  dear  golden  sunflowers, 
Golden  sunflowers  that 's  gwine  away, 
Becase  they  can't  look  sweet. 

All  our  old  brethren  hang  on  the  wall, 
'Cause  it  haint  been  warm  since  away  last  fall, 
But  we  flowers  all  think  we  '11  have  a  good  time 
When  we  see  Oscar  Wilde  in  the  morning. 
The  big  red  rose  and  the  flower-de-luce 
Will  telegraph  the  news  to  the  tall  green  spruce ; 
What  a  grand  display  there  will  be  that  day, 
When  we  see  Oscar  AVilde  in  the  morning. 
Chor^us. 

So  it 's  good-bye  all ;  we  have  to  go 

Where  the  frost  don't  come  and  the  wind  don't  blow, 

For  our  colors  bright  we  cannot  keep 

If  we  stay  where  it  freezes  in  the  morning. 

But  our  golden  rays  must  be  nice  and  clean 

And  our  age  must  be  just  right  to  lean 

Our  head  upon  his  broad  lapel, 

When  we  see  Oscar  Wilde  in  the  morning. 

Chorus. 

[ANONYMOUS.] 


A   FARMER'S    WIFE.  105 


A  TRIBUTE  TO  JOHN  BROWN. 

[NOTE.  —  Read  at  a  reception  given  at  Topeka  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Mary 
A..  Brown,  widow  of  John  Brown.] 

Against  this  crime  of  crimes  he  fought  and  fell ; 

He  freed  a  race  and  found  a  prison  cell ; 

In  mid-air  hung  upon  the  gibbet's  tree, 

But  lived  and  died,  thank  God,  to  make  men  free. 

And  dusky  men  the  ages  down  will  tell, 
For  what  he  fought,  and  how  he  bravely  fell ; 
And  dim  the  jewels  in  each  earthly  crown, 
Beside  the  luster  of  thy  name,  John  Brown. 

J.  G.  WATERS. 


A  FARMER'S  WIFE. 

"Ellen  P.  Allerton,  the  Kansas  poet  of  much  fame,  is 
a  modest  farmer's  wife.  She  writes  gracefully,  and  has 
written  from  childhood.  Her  thoughts  are  lofty.  She  is 
plain  in  dress  and  manner.  She  is  never  affected.  She  is 
fond  of  flowers  and  pretty  things.  She  is  a  woman  true 
men  admire.  When  the  Allertons  bought  a  farm  near 
Hiawatha,  Mrs.  Allerton  worked  very  hard  with  her  hus- 
band to  pay  for  it,  writing  little,  for  writing  doesn't  pay. 
Now  they  are  out  of  debt,  have  a  snug  home,  with  orch- 
ards, stock,  good  crops,  and  time  to  write.  Mrs.  Allerton 's 
poems  were  printed  in  a  small  book  some  time  ago. 
Enough  copies  have  been  sold  to  pay  for  printing. 


106          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

"  Her  first  poem  was  childish  prattle  about  a  yellow  dog. 
When  she  had  grown  older  she  sent  verses  to  the  New 
York  Tribune,  and  they  were  printed  by  Horace  Greeley, 
who  praised  them. 

"Mrs.  Allerton's  'Walls  of  Corn'  and  Mr.  Ware's  'Wash- 
erwoman's Song'  are  the  best  known  and  most  widely 
circulated  poems. 

"Mrs.  Allerton's  rhymes  are  musical,  and  her  thought 
is  always  encouraging.  She  is  never  gloomy.  She  does 
not  plow  so  deep  as  some,  but  there  is  more  of  her  golden 
grain  in  the  market."  EwmG  HEKBERT> 


SING  A  SONG  OF  KANSAS. 

Sing  a  song  of  Kansas, 
Princess  of  the  West, 
One  of  many  sisters  — 
Fairest  one,  and  best. 

Heart  of  a  great  nation, 
Brilliant,  central  star, 
Seen  of  all  observers, 
Hailed  from  near  and  far. 

Stately  in  proportions, 
Giantess  in  size, 
Noted  for  her  climate, 
Famous  for  her  skies. 


KANSAS.  10? 

Marvelous  in  progress, 
Wonderful  in  deeds, 
Other  States  may  follow, 
Kansas  ever  leads. 

Sing  a  song  of  Kansas, 
Land  of  fruit  and  grain ; 
Sound  aloud  her  praises, 
Thunder  the  refrain. 

—  Emporia  Republican. 


KANSAS. 

Kansas  corn  and  Kansas  wheat, 

Kansas  rye  and  oats, 
Kansas  sugar-cane  and  beets, 

Kansas  steers  and  shoats  ; 
Kansas  air  and  Kansas  soil, 

Kansas  sunny  skies, 
Kansas  grit  and  Kansas  toil, 

Kansas  enterprise; 
Kansas  mines  and  Kansas  mills, 

Kansas  brawn  and  brain, 
Kansas  valleys,  plains,  arid  hills, 

Kansas  sun  and  rain  ; 
Kansas  homes  and  Kansas  farms, 

Kansas  fruits  and  shades, 
Kansas  schools  and  Kansas  marms, 

Kansas  buxom  maids; 


108          A   COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Kansas  culture,  Kansas  wealth, 

Kansas  iron  rails, 
Kansas  climate,  Kansas  health, 

Kansas  empty  jails, 
Kansas  books  and  Kansas  press, 

Kansas  prose  and  rhyme  : 
Kansas  more,  but  never  less  — 

Kansas  all  the  time. 

W.  F.  CKAIO. 


RESUBMISSION. 

Who  asks  for  resubmission  of  the  law  of  prohibition  ? 
Who   signs  the   great  petition  which  before  our  gaze 

unrolls? 

Are  the  Kansas  people  tiring  of  the  spirit  that  was  firing 
Their  souls  when  that  great  army  triumphant  swept  the 
polls? 

Who  asks  for  resubmission  of  the  law  of  prohibition  ? 
Is  the  question  that  is  coming  from  the  East  and  from 

the  West ; 
And  the  South  with  many  voices,  and  the  freedman  that 

rejoices, 

And  the  anxious  and  the  waiting,  ask :    "  Will  Kansas 
bear  the  test?" 

Has  the  mother  grown  aweary  for  the  watches  long  and 

dreary? 

When  the  hours  dragged  to  midnight  and  were  mingled 
with  her  prayers 


109' 

For  the  weak  one  who  was  trying,  all  his  tempter's  rules 

defying, 

To  run  the  dreaded  gauntlet  of  the  wine-shop  and  its 
snares  ? 

Does  the  glad  wife    long   to    listen,  her  eyes  with  tears 

aglisten, 
For  the  husband  staggering  homeward  from  the  revel 

at  the  dawn? 

Or  the  maiden  under  cover  of  the  gloaming  wait  her  lover, 
Till  her  heart  is  worn  and  anxious  and  its  restfulness  is 
gone? 

Does  the  man  with  altered  manner  marching  under  this 

great  banner, 
Self-supporting,  self-respecting,  calm,  reliant,  strong  and 

brave, 
Want  his  boys  to  face  the  danger?     Does  he  ask  it  for 

the  stranger, 

That  he  bury  all  his  manhood  in  a  sot's   dishonored 
grave  ? 

Are  the  men  and  women  turning  to  the  streets  for  pau- 
pers yearning? 
Do  they  want  to  fill  asylums  and  their  prisons'  empty 

cells  ? 
Do  they  want  the  drunkard  reeling  by  them  without  sense 

of  feeling? 

The  saloon  whose  gilded  glamour  but  conceals  a  thou- 
sand hells? 


'HO          A   COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Who  wants  this  resubmission  ?  Who  swells  this  great  peti- 
tion 

That  unrolls  before  the  Senate  its  panoply  of  names ; 
Men  and  women  consecrating  life  to  truth,  not  hesitating, 

Or  the  wily  politician  who  debases  and  defames  ? 

Rise  up,  O  noble  people !  let  the  bells  from  every  steeple 
Riug  the  triumph  and  the  glory  of  the  right  above  the 

wrong ; 
Ye  who  fought  for  federation,  for  the  freedom  of   the 

Nation, 

Steady,  now,  for  prohibition,  more  than  half  a  million 
strong ! 

All   the  world   that   rang  your   praises,  at    your    danger 

breathless  gazes ; 
Every  man  who  loves  his  brother ;  every  soul  that  from 

its  clod 

Of  unputrified  ambition,  bursts  its  chrysalis  condition, 
And  soars  outward,  onward,  upward,  on  the  wings  of 
faith  and  God. 

Who  asks  for  resubmission  of  the  law  of  prohibition  ? 
Is  the  question  that  is  coining  from  the  East  and  from 

the  West ; 
And  the  South  with  many  voices,  and  the  freedman  who 

rejoices, 
Answer,  u Kansas  never  failed  us;  she  is  sure  to  bear 

the  test."  -P,          T}    a 

LMMA  P.  SEABURY. 


JOHN  BROWN "S  LAST  SPEECH.  \\\ 


JOHN  BKOWN'S  LAST  SPEECH. 

I  have,  may  it  please  the  court,  a  few  words  to  say. 

In  the  first  place,  I  deny  everything  but  what  I  have  all 
along  admitted  —  the  design  on  my  part  to  free  the  slaves. 
I  intended  certainly  to  have  made  a  clean  thing  of  that 
matter,  as  I  did  last  winter,  when  I  went  into  Missouri  and 
there  took  slaves  without  the  snapping  of  a  gun  on  either 
side,  moved  them  through  the  country,  and  finally  left  them 
in  Canada.  I  designed  to  have  done-the  same  thing  again, 
on  a  larger  scale.  That  was  all  I  intended.  I  never  in- 
tended murder,  or  treason,  or  destruction,  or  to  excite  slaves 
to  rebellion,  or  to  make  insurrection.  I  have  another  ob- 
jection, and  that  is,  it  is  unjust  that  I  should  suffer  such  a 
penalty.  Had  I  interfered,  in  the  manner  which  I  admit, 
and  which  I  admit  has  been  fairly  proved,  (for  I  admire 
the  truthfulness  and  candor  of  the  greater  portion  of  the 
witnesses  who  have  testified  in  this  case,)  had  I  so  inter- 
fered in  behalf  of  the  rich,  the  powerful,  the  intelligent,  the 
so-called  great,  or  in  behalf  of  any  of  their  friends,  either 
father,  mother,  brother,  sister,  wife,  or  children,  or  any  of 
that  class,  and  suffered  and  sacrificed  what  I  have  in  this 
interference,  it  would  have  been  all  right ;  and  every  man 
in  this  court  would  have  deemed  it  an  act  worthy  of  re- 
ward rather  than  punishment.  Now  if  it  is  deemed  neces- 
sary that  I  should  forfeit  my  life  for  the  furtherance  of  the 
ends  of  justice,  and  mingle  my  blood  further  with  the  blood 
of  my  children  and  with  the  blood  of  millions  in  this  slave 
country  whose  rights  are  disregarded  by  wicked,  cruel  and 
unjust  enactments,  I  submit ;  so  let  it  be  done. 

— Sanbortfs  "Life  and  Letters  of  John  Brown." 


112          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


DON'T  YOU  TELL. 

If  you  have  a  cherished  secret, 

Don't  you  tell: — 
Not  your  friend,  for  his  tympanum 

Is  a  bell, 

With  its  echoes  wide-rebounding, 
Multiplied  and  far-resounding, — 

Don't  you  tell. 

If  yourself,  you  cannot  keep  it, 

Then,  who  can? 
Could  you  more  expect  of  any 

Other  man  ? 

Yet  you  put  him,  if  he  tells  it, 
If  he  gives  away  or  sells  it, 

Under  ban. 

Sell  your  gems  to  any  buyer 

In  the  mart ; 
Of  your  wealth  to  feed  the  hungry, 

Spare  a  part. 

Blessings  on  the  open  pocket; 
But  your  secret,  keep  it,  lock  it, 

In  your  heart. 

MRS.  ALLERTON. 


THE   SOD   SCHOOL- HOUSE.  •      H3 


THE  SOD  SCHOOL -HOUSE. 

An  earthern  rnound  on  the  prairie's  swell, 

The  work  of  rough  settlers'  hands, 
An  uncouth  temple  for  learning  made, 
Its  walls  of  the  rudest  earth-squares  laid — 

A  lone  sod  school-house  stands. 

Not  a  tree  in  sight  from  the  open  door, 

Not  a  shrub  on  the  landscape's  face, 
But  a  sea  of  grass  fills  all  the  view ; 
Its  waves  are  of  emerald's  sparkling  hue, 

And  above  cloud-shadows  race. 

I  hear  the  sound  of  a  tinkling  bell; 

'Tis  the  teacher's  signal  sweet. 
There's  a  drowsy  hum  from  a  score  of  lips, 
There's  a  smothered  laugh  at  some  dullard's  slips, 

And  a  noise  of  restless  feet. 

Do  they  think  as  they  tread  the  earthen  floor, 

Those  children  gathered  there, 
How  near  to  nature's  true  heart  they  stand, 
Their  tan-stained  cheeks  by  her  light  breath  fanned, 

Their  eyes  on  her  features  fair? 

Do  they  hear  the  notes  forever  new, 

That  the  limitless  prairies  sing? 
'Tis  a  nobler  strain  than  books  have  told, 
Than  choirs  have  breathed,  or  organs  rolled, 

Or  silver  chimes  can  ring. 


114          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

They  say,  "Be  pure  as  our  morning  dew, 

Be  firm  as  our  leagues  of  earth, 
Be  kind  as  our  breezes  that  gently  blow, 
Be  bright  as  our  hills  in  the  sunset's  glow, 

Be  gay  as  our  song-bird's  mirth. 

"Look  up  to  the  light  like  the  spears  that  wave 

O'er  all  our  stretching  miles ; 
Let  the  flowers  that  dimple  our  bosom  cast 
A  spell  of  beauty  that  shall  at  last 

Tinge  manhood's  years  with  smiles." 

And  the  peaceful  haze  at  yonder  rim, 

Just  kissing  the  prairie  sea, 
Has  a  soft  refrain  for  the  song  of  life — 
It  whispers,  "Beyond  this  earthly  strife 

Lies  the  glorious  rest  to  be." 

Can  the  youthful  ears  but  catch  the  hymn, 

Can  the  hearts  its  lesson  glean, 
With  what  wealth  of  soul  to  the  world  they'll  go 
From  that  earth-walled  school-room  cramped  and  low, 

'Mid  the  hills  of  lustrous  green. 

CHARLES  MOREAU  HARGER. 

(In  Frost's  Collections.) 


THE  WORLD  A  SCHOOL. 

"Young  men,  young  women,  crowding  forward  from  the 
byways  into  the  broad  highway  of  life,  may  you  do  well  the 
work  which  is  waiting  for  your  hands,  realizing  the  obliga 
tion  spoken  of  by  Lord  Bacon  :  '  I  hold  every  man  a  debtor 


THE    WORLD   A    SCHOOL.  115 

to  his  profession  ;  from  the  which,  as  men  of  course  do  seek 
to  receive  countenance  and  profit,  so  ought  they  of  duty 
to  endeavor  themselves  by  way  of  amends  to  be  a  help  and 
ornament  thereunto.' 

"May  your  lives  resemble  not  the  desert's  bitter  stream, 
which  mocks  the  cracked  and  blistered  lips  of  the  fainting, 
dying  traveler ;  which  but  adds  horror  to  the  fiery  desert, 
and  sinks  at  last  into  the  burning  sands,  to  which  it  brought 
no  verdure,  no  gladness,  from  which  it  received  nothing 
but  poison  and  a  grave. 

"May  the  course  of  your  lives  find  no  counterpart  in  the 
sluggish  course  of  the  dull  bayou,  a  fungus  among  streams, 
which  winds  and  doubles  and  winds  again  through  miles 
of  rank  vegetation  which  curtain  its  dark  course  and  shut 
out  from  its  sullen  waters  the  gladsome  light  of  day ;  but 
may  your  lives  be  like  the  river  which  rises  amid  the  pure 
snows  of  the  bold  mountain  ;  which  forces  its  way  through 
the  rocks  that  would  impede  it  in  search  for  the  valley ; 
which  slakes  as  it  goes  the  thirst  of  the  deer,  and  washes 
the  roots  of  the  pine-tree  from  which  the  flag  of  the  far- 
sailing  merchantman  is  yet  to  fly ;  which  turns  the  rude 
wheel  of  the  mountain  mill  and  whirls  in  its  eddies  the 
gathering  sawdust  as  it  speeds  from  under  the  whirring, 
glittering  teeth  of  steel  it  has  bidden  to  rend  the  logs  it 
has  brought  them.  It  grows  wider  and  deeper  and  more 
silent,  and  yet  stronger  as  it  flows  between  smiling  farms 
and  thrifty  villages,  which  owe  their  existence  to  the  boun- 
teous river.  At  night  it  sends  its  mist  over  all  the  valley 
and  half-way  up  the  hills,  like  sweet  Charity  who  silently 
wraps  in  her  sheltering  mantle  all  the  sons  of  men..  It 
carries  on  its  bosom  all  floating  craft  —  the  light  canoe,  the 
slow-drifting  raft,  the  arrow-like  steamer.  In  time  its  wave- 


A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

lets  give  back  at  night  in  dancing  gleams  the  thousand 
lights  of  the  great  cotton  mills,  and  anon  its  waters  part 
before  the  prow  of  the  new-built  ship  as  she  glides  down 
the  ways  to  the  element  which  is  henceforth  to  be  her 
home.  Thus  goes  the  shining  river,  the  ever-useful,  ever- 
blessed  river ;  best  friend  of  toiling  man ;  fairest  thing 
from  the  creative  hand  of  God.  Thus  goes  the  river,  to 
mingle  at  last  forever  with  the  sunlit  sea." 

NOBLE  L.  PRENTIS. 


JOHN  BROWN. 

States  are  not  great 
Except  as  men  may  make  them ; 
Men  are  not  great  except  they  do  and  dare. 

But  States,  like  men, 
Have  destinies  that  take  them  — 
That  bear  them  on,  not  knowing  why  or  where. 

The  Why  repels 
The  philosophic  searcher  — 
The  Why  and  Where  all  questionings  defy, 

Until  we  find, 

Far  back  in  youthful  nurture, 
Prophetic  facts  that  constitute  the  Why. 

All  merit  comes 
From  daring  the  unequal ; 
All  glory  comes  from  daring  to  begin. 

Fame  loves  the  State 
That,  reckless  of  the  sequel, 
Fights  long  and  well,  though  it  may  lose  or  win. 


JOHN  BROWN.  H7 

Than  in  our  State 
No  illustration  apter 
Is  seen  or  found  of  faith,  and  hope,  and  will. 

Take  up  her  story : 
Every  leaf  and  chapter 
Contains  a  record  that  conveys  a  thrill. 

And  there  is  one 

Whose  faith,  whose  fight,  whose  failing, 
Fame  yet  shall  placard  on  the  walls  of  time. 

He  dared  begin  — 
Despite  the  unavailing ; 
He  dared  begin,  when  failure  was  a  crime. 

When  over  Africa 
Some  future  cycle 
Shall  sweep  the  lake-gemmed  uplands  with  its  surge ; 

When,  as  with  trumpet 
Of  Archangel  Michael, 
Culture  shall  bid  a  colored  race  emerge ; 

When  busy  cities 
There,  in  constellations, 
Shall  gleam  with  spires,  and  palaces,  and  domes, 

With  marts  wherein 
Are  heard  the  noise  of  nations ; 
With  summer  groves  surrounding  stately  homes  — 

There,  future  orators 
To  cultured  freemen 
Shall  tell  of  valor,  and  recount  with  praise 

Stories  of  Kansas, 
And  of  Lacedsemon  — 
Cradles  of  freedom,  then  of  ancient  days. 


118          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

From  boulevards 
O'erlooking  both  Nyanzas, 
The  statured  bronze  shall  glitter  in  the  sun, 

With  rugged  lettering: 
"JoHN  BROWN,  OF  KANSAS: 
HE  DARED  BEGIN;  HE  LOST,  BUT,  LOSING,  WON." 

EUGENE  F.  WARE. 


THE   COYOTE. 

He  has  been  called  an  "  outcast "  by  a  notorious  poet. 
He  is  universally  conceded  to  be  a  sneak,  a  thief,  and  an 
arrant  coward.  He  is  a  worthless  vagabond,  a  wanderer 
o'  nights  and  a  lier-by  by  day ;  a  dissipated  wretch  in 
whose  whole  history  there  is  not  one  redeeming  fact.  He 
has  an  extensive  connection  but  no  family.  He  is  dis- 
owned by  the  dogs,  and  not  recognized  by  respectable 
foxes.  He  will  lengthen  out  the  days  of  his  life  until  his 
voice  sounds  hollow  and  thin  and  aged,  in  the  watches  of 
the  night.  Nothing  less  than  infinite  pains  and  insidious 
strychnine  will  end  his  vagabond  life.  As  his  gray  back 
moves  slowly  along  at  a  leisurely  trot,  above  the  reeds 
and  coarse  grass,  and  he  turns  his  sly  face  over  his 
shoulder  to  regard  you,  he  knows  immediately  whether  or 
not  you  have  with  you  your  gun.  The  coyote  is  a  reflect- 
tive  brute  and  has  an  inquiring  mind,  and  he  proceeds  to 
interview  you,  in  a  way  which  for  politeness  and  unobtru- 
siveness  is  recommended  as  a  model  to  more  intelligent 
and  scarcely  less  obtrusive  animals.  As  he  sits  himself 
complacently  dowii  upon  his  tail  at  the  summit  of  the 


THE    COYOTE.  119 

nearest  knoll,  and  lolls  his  red  tongue,  and  seems  to  wink 
in  your  direction,  he  is  so  ranch  like  his  cousin  the  dog, 
that  you  can  hardly  refrain  from  whistling  to  him.  Make 
any  hostile  demonstration  and  he  moves  a  few  paces 
further  and  sits  down  again.  Lie  down  in  the  grass  and 
remain  quiet  for  an  hour,  and  by  slyly  watching  him  from 
the  corner  of  your  eye  you  will  discover  that  he  has  been 
joined  by  a  half-dozen  of  his  brethren  and  friends.  He 
is  conscious  of  the  frailty  of  life  and  now  wants  to  find 
out,  first,  if  you  are  dead ;  and  second,  supposing  you  are 
not,  if  there  is  anything  else  in  your  neighborhood  which 
is  eatable.  You  rise  up  in  sudden  indignation  and  scare 
the  committee  away.  In  that  case  you  have  offended  the 
coyote  family  deeply,  and  they  retire  to  a  safe  distance 
and  bark  ceaselessly  until  they  have  hooted  you  out  of  the 
neighborhood. 

He  is  a  brute  which  is  entitled  to  respect  from  his  very 
persistence  in  knavery.  Contemptible  in  person  and  count- 
less in  numbers,  he  forages  fatness  from  things  despised 
of  all  others. 

Like  all  cowards,  he  can  fight  desperately  when  he 
must,  and  the  borderer's  dogs  wear  many  an  ugly  scar  of 
his  making.  Winter  and  summer,  in  heat  and  cold,  he 
wags  his  way  along  the  prairie  path  with  the  same  droop- 
ing, quick-turning,  watchful  head ;  the  same  lolling  red 
tongue,  the  same  bushy  tail  trailing  behind ;  ever-mindful 
of  a  coyote's  affairs,  ever  looking  for  supper ;  the  figure- 
head, the  feature,  the  representative  of  the  broad  and 
silent  country  of  which  he  comes  more  nearly  being 
master  than  any  other. 

—  Extracts  from  Steeled  '•'•Sons  of  the  Border." 


120          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

QUIYERA—  KANSAS. 

1542-1882. 

In  that  half  forgotten  era, 
With  the  avarice  of  old, 
Seeking  cities  that  were  told 
To  be  paved  with  solid  gold, 

In  the  kingdom  of  Quivera. 

Came  the  restless  Coronado 
To  the  open  Kansas  plain, 
With  his  knights  from  sunny  Spain ; 
In  an  effort  that,  though  vain, 

Thrilled  with  boldness  and  bravado. 

League  by  league,  in  aimless  marching, 
Knowing  scarcely  where  or  why, 
Crossed  the  uplands  drear  and  dry, 
That  an  unprotected  sky 

Had  for  centuries  been  parching. 

But  their  expectations,  eager, 
Found,  instead  of  fruitful  lands, 
Shallow  streams  and  shifting  sands, 
Where  the  buffalo  in  bands 

Roamed  o'er  deserts  dry  and  meager. 

Back  to  scenes  more  trite,  yet  tragic, 

Marc'.ied  the  knights  with  armor 'd  steeds; 
Not  for  them  the  quiet  deeds ; 
Not  for  them  to  sow  the  seeds 

From  which  empires  grow  like  magic. 


QUIVER  A— KANSAS. 

Never  land  so  hunger-stricken 

Could  a  Latin  race  remold ; 

They  could  conquer  heat  or  cold  — 

Die  for  glory  or  for  gold  — 
But  not  make  a  desert  quicken. 

Thus  Quivera  was  forsaken ; 

And  the  world  forgot  the  place, 

Until  centuries  apace 

Came  the  blue-eyed  Saxon  race, 
And  it  bade  the  desert  waken. 

And  it  bade  the  climate  vary  ; 
And  awaiting  no  reply 
From  the  elements  on  high, 
It  with  plows  besieged  the  sky  — 

Yexed  the  heavens  with  the  prairie. 

Then  the  vitreous  sky  relented, 

And  the  unacquainted  rain 

Fell  upon  the  thirsty  plain, 

Whence  had  gone  the  knights  of  Spain, 
Disappointed,  discontented. 

Sturdy  are  the  Saxon  faces, 
As  they  move  along  in  lines ; 
Bright  the  rolling-cutters  shine, 
Charging  up  the  State's  incline, 

As  an  army  storms  a  glacis. 

Into  loam  the  sand  is  melted, 

And  the  blue-grass  takes  the  loam, 
Round  about  the  prairie  home ; 
And  the  locomotives  roam 

Over  landscapes  iron-belted, . 


COLLECTION  FROM  KAXSAS  AUTHORS. 

Cities  grow  where  stunted  birches 

Hugged  the  shallow  water-line, 

And  the  deepening  rivers  twine 

Past  the  factory  and  mine, 
Orchard  slopes  and  schools  and  churches. 

Deeper  grows  the  soil,  and  truer ; 

More  and  more  the  prairie  teems 

With  a  fruitage  as  of  dreams ; 

Clearer,  deeper,  flow  the  streams, 
Blander  grows  the  sky,  and  bluer. 

We  have  made  the  State  of  Kansas, 
And  to-day  she  stands  complete  — 
First  in  freedom,  first  in  wheat ; 
And  her  future  years  will  meet 

Riper  hopes  and  richer  stanzas. 

EUGENE  F.  WARE. 


THE  TRAIL  OF  "49." 

Across  the  prairie  where  I  dwell 
Stretches  away  from  swell  to  swell, 
A  road  that  might  a  story  tell. 

The  track  is  wide,  and  deeply  cut 
By  wheels  of  heavy  wagons,  but 
The  rank  grass  grows  in  seam  and  rut. 

'Tis  the  old  trail  of  "Forty-nine"; 

Thus  history,  in  graven  line, 

Has  stamped  this  prairie  home  of  mine. 


THE    TRAIL    OF  "49."  123 

Tracing  it  where  it  winds  away, 
There  comes  to  me,  at  twilight  gray, 
A  vision  of  another  day. 

I  see  the  covered  wagons  go 

Across  the  prairie,  toiling  slow, 

Through  dreary  storms,  through  summer  glow. 

I  see  them  with  their  human  freight, 
Hearts  throbbing  high  with  hopes  elate, 
Pass  onward  to  a  doubtful  fate. 

Months  pass ;  a  weary,  jaded  train, 
Worn  with  fatigue,  disease,  and  pain, 
Creeps  slowly  o'er  a  desert  plain. 

Above,  a  cloudless,  burning  sky ; 
Below,  naught  greets  the  weary  eye, 
Save  wastes  of  sand  and  alkali. 

No  rains  descend,  no  water  flows; 

No  cool  trees  bend,  no  green  thing  grows: 

Yet  still  that  sad  train  onward  goes. 

Fatigue  and  thirst !  no  tongue  can  tell 
The  victim's  anguish,  fierce  and  fell  — 
His  fondest  dream,  a  bubbling  well. 

And  some  go  mad  and  wildly  rave ; 
Some  find  what,  at  the  last,  they  crave  — 
The  silence  of  a  desert  grave. 

The  living  speak  in  husky  tones ; 

The  poor  brutes  drop  with  piteous  moans ; 

The  track  is  paved  with  bleaching  bones. 


A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Still  onward,  slower  and  more  slow, 

Dogged  nightly  by  a  stealthy  foe, 

Toward  mountain  passes  choked  with  snow. 

One  sleeps  to  dream  of  home  and  wife ; 
He  wakes,  at  call  of  midnight  strife 
With  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife. 


Past  perils,  miseries  untold ; 

Past  desert's  heat,  past  mountain  cold  — 

What  waits  them  in  the  land  of  gold? 

Go,  search  a  checkered  history, 
Of  soon-got  hoards,  as  soon  to  flee ; 
Of  princely  wealth  and  poverty. 

Go  search  them  all,  through  every  line, 
Yet  deign  to  read  this  song  of  mine, 
Of  the  old  trail  of  "Forty-nine." 

MRS.  ALLEKTON. 


TO   KANSAS. 

Not  for  thy  outward  charms  of  form  and  face, 
Careful  to  leave  no  feature  unexpressed, 
As  if  for  beauty's  sake  we  lave  thee  best, 

We  bring  the  praise ;  nor  for  thy  pride  of  race, 

Nor  for  thy  wealth  that  waxeth  great  apace ; 
Nor  will  we  vaunt,  with  low  and  swinish  zest, 
The  milky  richness  of  thy  mother-breast, 

Like  un weaned  babes  that  know  no  higher  grace. 


TO  KANSAS.  125 

Shall  we  be  lured  by  these  things  ?     Are  not  we 
A  something  more  than  mouth,  and  eyes,  and  ears, 

To  eat,  and  look,  and  listen  life  away  ? 
More  than  these  skin-deep  beauties  must  thou  be, 

To  win  and  keep  our  homage  through  the  years ; 
Yea,  fair  in  more  transcendent  wise  than  they. 

And  fair  thou  art,  as  we  would  have  thee  be, 
Fair  even  in  this  more  transcendent  wise  ; 
The  light  of  high  comrnunings  on  thee  lies ; 

Thy  touch  the  bond  abide  not,  but  are  free, 

Thy  look  is  gracious,  holy ;  none  but  thee, 
Smiled  on  how  e'er  she  be  by  happy  skies, 
Hath  power  to  still  the  hunger  of  our  eyes, 

Unsated  by  the  mountains  and  the  sea. 

For  thou  art  Freedom's  daughter,  and  thy  birth 
Was  through  the  pain  of  Righteousness'  wars ; 

Thy  cradle-song,  the  battle's  roar  and  din. 
Therefore  thy  beauty  hath  the  greater  worth 

Of  nobler  thoughts  ;  so  art  thou  fair  within, 
And  claimest  thine  the  pathway  of  the  stars. 

ARTHUR  GRAVES  CANFIELD. 

( In  Frost's  Collection. ) 


126          A    COLLECTION'S  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


"GOD  SAVE  OUR  TOWN." 

Beyond  the  sea  in  cities  old, 
With  time-worn  walls  and  moss-grown  towers, 
Still,  as  we  are  by  travelers  told, 
The  ancient  watchman  calls  the  hours ; 
At  midnight,  when  the  moon  rides  high, 
Rings  out  his  voice  to  the  roofs  and  sky, 
"Twelve  o'clock,  twelve  o'clock,  and  all's  well. 
God  save  our  town." 

But  scarce  his  voice  has  died  away 
Ere  from  the  great  cathedral  down 
Midst  the  sculptured  saints  who  pray  all  day, 
Rings  out  o'er  the  sleeping  town 
The  pealing  voice  of  the  mighty  bell, 
"All 's  well,  all 's  well. 

God  save  our  town." 

And  thus  the  carrier  comes  to-day, 
Like  the  old  watchman  far  away, 
And  thus  to  each  and  all  doth  say : 

From  flood,  from  fire, 

From  battle's  ire, 

From  earthquake's  harm, 

From  rage  of  storm, 

From  pestilence  that  walks  abroad, 

And  spreads  its  flight,  . 

By  noon  and  night, 
God  save  our  town. 


KANSAS.  127 

From  pride  that  scorns  a  neighbor  poor, 
Or  drives  a  beggar  from  his  door ; 
From  misers  hoarding  up  their  gold, 
From  rascals  cunning,  bright,  or  bold  — 
Each  in  their  several  degree, 
And  from  the  loud-voiced  Pharisee, 
God  save  our  town. 
— From  N.  L.  Prentis*  Carrier's  Address. 


KANSAS. 

(FOB  A   PICTURE.) 

A  gracious  figure,  clad  in  living  green, 

Enwrought  with  gold,  and  broidered  thick  with 

flowers, 
A  woman,  strong  in  woman's  noblest  powers, 

Who  holds  the  scepter  of  a  fearless  queen, 

And  there  is  love  in  her  blue  eyes,  I  ween  — 
The  love  that  keeps  a  watch  from  its  own  towers, 
And  on  her  lips  the  purpose  that  endowers 

Her  royal  children  with  her  royal  sheen  ! 

Above  her  floats  a  gonfalon,  unfurled, 
That  men  may  see  her  colors  from  afar, 

And  read  therein  her  message  to  the  world  ; 
Steadfast  she  stands,  be  it  in  peace  or  war, 

Nor  falters  not  though  heavy  clouds  be  hurled 
Athwart  the  glory  of  her  guiding  star. 

FLORENCE  L.  SNOW. 

(In  Frost's  Collection. ) 


128          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


THE  STATE  REFORM  SCHOOL. 

Here,  under  the  care  and  guidance  of  faithful  and  con- 
scientious officers  and  teachers,  the  unfortunate  boys  of 
our  State,  who,  from  force  of  circumstances  or  an  inherited 
tendency  to  wrong-doing,  have  taken  the  first  step  toward 
a  criminal  life,  are  subjected  to  a  discipline  mildly  but 
firmly  administered,  and  a  moral,  mental  and  physical 
training  that  is  designed  and  executed  with  a  view  to  the 
formation  of  good  character,  with  all  that  that  implies. 

Upon  approaching  the  school,  the  boy,  whose  dreams 
have.feQeu  disturbed  by  visions  of  gloomy,  prison-like  walls, 
burred  windows,  and  the  rattle  of  bolts  and  chains,  is 
surprised  to  see  a  beautiful,  well-kept  lawn  and  attractive 
buildings,  with  nothing  suggesting  a  prison.  He  enters, 
after  ascending  a  short  flight  of  broad  stone  steps,  and  is 
conducted  to  the  office.  Here  he  is  questioned  as  to  his 
past  life,  his  standing  in  the  common-school  branches,  his 
habits,  good  and  bad,  and  such  facts  as  might  give  some 
insight  into  his  character.  He  is  then  taken  to  the  bath- 
room, and  after  bathing  is  provided  with  the  regulation 
uniform.  This  is  cadet  gray,  with  brass  buttons  and  mili- 
tary cap.  He  receives  two  suits  —  one  for  Sunday  and 
one  for  every-day  wear.  Now,  after  being  assigned  to 
one  of  the  four  divisions  or  families  into  which  the  in- 
mates are  divided,  he  becomes  a  full  member  of  this  busy 
little  community. 

Like  all  his  companions,  he  has  been  committed  to  the 
care  of  the  State  until  he  is  twenty-one  years  old,  but  he 
is  informed  that  by  good  conduct  he  may  earn  the  privilege 


THE  STATE  REFORM  SCHOOL.  129 

of  returning  to  home  and  friends  in  a  comparatively  short 
time  —  possibly  in  15  months,  though  it  is  probable  that 
his  stay  will  be  about  30,  the  average  time  of  the  500 
boys  who  had  been  discharged  up  to  June  30,  1892,  being 
29  months. 

Let  us  follow  the  boys  through  one  day  of  their  school 
life.  At  5:30  A.  M.  the  rising-bell  rings.  After  dressing, 
each  boy  makes  his  own  bed.  At  a  signal  from  the  officer 
they  march  to  the  school-room,  where  they  have  a  short 
devotional  exercise,  closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer  recited 
in  unison.  From  here  they  pass  to  the  play-ground,  if 
the  weather  permits,  if  not,  to  the  play-room,  and  remain 
until  6:15.  They  then  move  to  the  lavatory  and  prepare 
for  the  morning  meal.  After  breakfast,  they  all  assemble 
for  the  detail,  and  the  different  classes  are  sent  to  their 
morning's  work.  Part  of  them  go  to  school  and  others  to 
the  various  departments  —  as  the  tailor  shop,  shoe  shop, 
laundry,  engine  room,  kitchens,  dining  rooms,  dormitories, 
farm,  etc.  Work  ceases  at  11:30,  and  the  preparations 
for  dinner  are  the  same  as  for  breakfast.  At  1  p.  M. 
comes  detail  again.  Those  who  were  in  school  in  the 
morning  will  now  be  required  to  do  the  work,  while  those 
who  worked  in  the  morning  will  have  their  turn  in  school. 
The  departments  close  at  5:30,  and  supper  is  ready  at  6. 
Between  supper  and  sundown,  the  time  is  spent  in  play. 
Once  more  in  the  school -room,  the  officer  credits  those 
against  whom  there  are  no  charges,  with  one  day  of  good 
conduct,  while  any  that  are  found  guilty  of  misdemeanors 
will  lose  one  day  or  more,  according  to  the  nature  of  the 
offense.  From  this  until  bed-time,  they  will  study  the 
Sunday-school  lesson,  or  have  books  and  papers  and  quiet 
indoor  amusements. 


130       A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Saturday  afternoon  is  a  half-holiday,  during  which  all 
take  a  good  bath. 

On  Sunday  morning  there  is  a  Sabbath-school  service, 
and  in  the  afternoon  they  listen  to  a  sermon  delivered  by 
a  minister  from  the  city. 

All  the  national  holidays  are  observed,  and  through  the 
winter  a  series  of  entertainments,  in  which  the  music  is 
furnished  by  their  own  band  and  orchestra,  provides 
wholesome  and  instructive  amusement. 

The  new  boy  will  probably  chafe  under  what  to  him 
appears  to  be  unnecessarily  strict  discipline,  but  in  a  short 
time  he  finds  that  it  is  not  so  difficult  to  comply  with  the 
regulations  as  he  had  fancied.  He  will  begin  to  do  right, 
possibly  from  no  higher  motive  than  to  save  his  time. 
But  with  right-doing  comes  a  feeling  of  self-respect  that 
in  time  begets  a  desire  to  do  right  for  the  sake  of  right. 
This  desire  once  awakened,  he  enters  upon  the  struggle 
common  to  all  mankind  —  the  fight  between  conscience 
and  the  inclination  to  do  evil.  He  may  stumble,  and 
sometimes  fall,  but  his  efforts  entitle  him  to  our  sympathy 
and  charity.  w> 


KANSAS— KETEOSPECTIYE. 

Where  once  the  Indian  pitched  his  tent 

Beside  the  winding  river ; 
Or  with  a  bow  slung  'cross  his  back 

(And  arrows  in  a  quiver) 


KA  NSAS—  RE  TROSPECTIVE, 

Gave  chase  unto  the  buffalo, 

Once  monarch  of  the  green  — 
All  this,  and  more  transpired,  before 

The  paleface  here  was  seen. 

'Twas  then  the  "noble  reds"  held  sway, 

And  with  Waunita's  hand 
To  guide  them  on,  they  Ve  gone  to  view 

Their  happy  hunting  land. 
Where  wigwams  stood,  now  stands  a  school, 

To  educate  the  young; 
Where  pipes  of  peace  were  smoked  by  chiefs, 

A  city  since  has  sprung. 

Where  once  the  cactus  blooms  put  forth, 

Beneath  a  warm  sun's  rays, 
The  prairie  dogs  and  rattlesnakes, 

In  peace  lived  all  their  days. 
Now  these  have  gone,  and  in  their  place 

A  wheat-field  is  instead, 
And  every  year  it  brings  forth  fruit, 

That  the  hungry  may  be  fed. 

Who  found  her  first  ?     This  is  a  point 

In  dispute  between  two  men. 
In  fifteen  hundred  forty-one, 

One  says  it  was  —  and  then 
The  other  fellow's  tale  comes  'long 

To  prove  one  in  a  mix, 
Declaring  he  himself  was  here 

In  fifteen  thirty-six. 


132          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

The  wealth  now  shown  within  our  lines, 

'Twere  vain  it  all  to  state ; 
Her  churches,  schools,  corn-fields,  and  all, 

Would  make  an  empire  great. 
Our  motto  hangs  on  .Heaven's  walls; 

Though  blazoned  with  our  wars, 
It  ne'er  shone  brighter  than  to-day  — 

"Through  difficulties  to  the  stars." 

GEORGE  A.  ROOT. 


DEATH  OF  THE  SPANISH  THREE  HUNDRED. 
KANSAS,  1721. 

Three  hundred  souls  from  Santa  Fe, 

In  that  far-off  time, 

Sought  homes  where  the  prairie  rivers  run, 
Under  the  face  of  a  Kansas  sun, 
In  a  beauteous  land,  and  a  wild 

But  beauteous  clime. 

Three  hundred  souls  of  old  Castile, 

The  pride  of  Spain  ; 

Wives  and  mothers,  sisters,  children,  sires, 
Gathered  around  the  evening  fires, 
And  talked  of  tender  cares,  and  homes 

Upon  the  plains. 

Three  hundred  souls  of  a  proud  old  race, 

Whose  soldier  hands 
Unfurled  the  flag  of  the  Spanish  Cross 


DEATH  OF  THE  SPANISH  THREE  HUNDRED.        133 

In  the  face  of  the  ocean  Albatross, 
And  braved  the  unknown  waters 
To  conquer  western  lands. 

Three  hundred  souls,  in  search  of  homes ; 

The  mail-clad  knights 
Were  young  and  strong  and  battle-tried, 
And  to  the  future  looked  with  pride, 
Where  conquered  fields  stood  out 

Redeemed  by  a  hundred  fights. 

Three  hundred  souls  —  the  saintly  priest 

Who  led  them  on 

Dreamed  that  the  ark  of  God  should  stand 
To  bless  his  work  in  the  Kansas  land, 
And  the  Indian  savage  from  his 

Bloody  rites  be  won. 

i 

Three  hundred  souls,  in  the  face  of  death  — 

The  savage  foe, 

Circling  around  them  —  the  mail-clad  breasts 
Defend  their  own,  and  many  crests 
Of  hero  fame  go  down  in  death 

Beneath  the  Indian  blow. 

Three  hundred  souls  —  soldiers  in  mail  — 

Children,  mothers,  wives  — 
Perished  that  day  where  they  fighting  stood, 
And  died,  as  became  their  proud  old  blood, 
In  fight  —  and  fame  bids  live 

The  glory  of  Spanish  lives. 


134          'A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Three  hundred  souls  of  the  olden  time 

Float  down  the  years ; 
The  last  wild  shriek  of  that  stricken  band 
Going  down  in  death  in  Quivera  land, 
Still  afrights  the  wild  bird 

When  gloom  of  night  appears. 

Three  hundred  souls  —  the  wild  flowers  bloom, 

Where  then  they  fell ; 

At  times  there  are  sounds  on  the  prairie  gale, 
Of  prayers,  and  shouts,  and  dash  of  mail 
Like  a  last  death-fight  —  then  all  is  still: 

Time  guards  his  secret  well. 

JOHN  MADDEN. 


ORIGINAL  PACKAGE. 

"What  is  as  an  'Original  package,'  my  dear?" 

She  laid  down  her  paper  to  ask ; 
"What  is  all  the  rout  and  the  fussing  about? 

To  read  is  too  much  of  a  task." 

He  gave  her  a  glance  of  amusement  and  scorn, 

A  way  husbands  have,  don't  deny: 
"'Tis  a  package  of  freight  that  is  sent  by  one  State 
To  another  one,  when  it  is  dry." 

"Oh,  yes,  to  be  sure,"  with  a  sip  of  her  tea, 
"  To  irrigate  arable  land  ; 
Yet- 1  can  but  reflect,  'tis  odd  to  object — 
That  is  all  that  I  don't  understand." 

EMMA  P.  SEABUBY. 


THE  WHISTLING  ENGINEER.  135 


THE  WHISTLING  ENGINEER 

Down  through  the  Neosho  valley 

There  runs  an  engineer, 
With  an  arm  that 's  strong  and  steady, 

With  a  heart  that  knows  no  fear ; 
And  when  his  train  approaches 

The  town  where  his  sweetheart  dwells, 
He  gives  a  loud,  long  whistle, 

And  thus  his  presence  tells. 

It  may  be  in  the  morning, 

As  through  his  gates  of  gold 
The  King  of  Day  approaches 

And  scatters  wealth  untold. 
On  the  fresh,  free  air  it  cometh, 

To  every  listening  ear  — 
The  long,  long,  long  shrill  whistle 

Of  the  loving  engineer. 

Perhaps  it  is  at  midnight, 

When  darkness  like  a  pall, 
With  many  a  wild,  weird  phantom, 

Has  settled  over  all ; 
The  stillness  then  is  broken, 

And  the  startled  atmosphere 
Kings  out  with  the  loud,  long  whistle 

Of  the  loving  engineer. 

No  matter  where  the  maiden, 
And  whether  eve  or  morn, 


136  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KAIVSAS  AUTHORS. 

The  sound  of  that  long  whistle 

Is  like  the  bugle-horn 
Of  a  gallant  Alpine  lover ; 

It  fills  her  heart  with  cheer, 
And  listening  to  its  echoes 

Says  :   "There  's  my  engineer.1' 

May  many  years  of  "running" 

Come  to  lover  and  to  maid ; 
May  they  never  need  a  "  wrecker," 

And  never  run  down  grade. 
And  when  these  two  together 

Approach  the  other  sphere, 
May  it  be  with  the  long,  glad  whistle 

Of  the  loving  engineer. 

J.  M.  CAVANESS. 


JOHN  BROWN'S  PARALLELS. 

"TRADING  POST,  KANSAS,  January,  1859. 

"  GENTLEMEN  :  You  will  greatly  oblige  a  humble  friend 
by  allowing  the  use  of  your  columns  while  I  briefly  state 
two  parallels,  in  my  poor  way. 

;'Not  one  year  ago,  eleven  quiet  citizens  of  this  neigh, 
borhood,  viz.,  William  Robertson,  William  Colpetzer,  Amos 
Hall,  Austin  Hall,  John  Campbell,  Asa  Snyder,  William 
A.  Stillwell,  William  Hairgrove,  Asa  Hairgrove,  Patrick 
Ross,  and  B.  L.  Reed,  were  gathered  up  from  their  work 
and  their  homes  by  an  armed  force  under  one  Hamilton, 
and,  without  trial  or  opportunity  to  speak  in  their  own 


JOHN  BROWN'S  PARALLELS.  137 

defense,  were  formed  into  line,  and  all  but  one  shot  —  five 
killed  and  five  wounded.  One  fell  unharmed,  pyetending 
to  be  dead.  All  were  left  for  dead.  The  only  crime 
charged  against  them  was  that  of  being  Free-State  men. 
Now,  I  inquire,  what  action  has  ever,  since  the  occurrence 
in  May  last,  been  taken  by  either  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  Governor  of  Missouri,  the  Governor  of 
Kansas,  or  any  of  their  tools,  or  by  any  pro-slavery  or  ad- 
ministration man,  to  ferret  out  and  punish  the  perpetrators 
of  this  crime  ? 

"Now  for  the  other  parallel.  On  Sunday,  December 
19th,  a  negro  man  called  Jim  came  over  to  the  Osage  set- 
tlement from  Missouri  and  stated  that  he,  together  with 
his  wife,  two  children,  and  another  negro  man,  was  to 
be  sold  within  a  day  or  two,  and  begged  for  help  to  get 
away.  On  Monday  (the  following)  night,  two  small  com- 
panies were  made  up  to  go  to  Missouri  and  forcibly  lib- 
erate the  five  slaves,  together  with  other  slaves.  One  of 
these  companies  I  assumed  to  direct.  We  proceeded  to 
the  place,  surrounded  the  buildings,  liberated  the  slaves, 
and  also  took  certain  property  supposed  to  belong  to  the 
estate. 

"We  however  learned  before  leaving  that  a  portion  of 
the  articles  we  had  taken  belonged  to  a  man  living  on  the 
plantation  as  a  tenant,  and  who  was  supposed  to  have  no 
interest  in  the  estate.  We  promptly  returned  to  him  all 
we  had  taken.  We  then  went  to  another  plantation,  where 
we  found  five  more  slaves,  took  some  property  and  two 
white  men.  We  moved  all  slowly  away  into  the  Territory 
for  some  distance,  and  then  sent  the  white  men  back,  tell- 
ing them  to  follow  us  as  soon  as  they  chose  to  do  so.  The 
other  company  freed  one  female  slave,  took  some  property, 


138  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

and,  as  I  am  informed,  killed  one  white  man  (the  master), 
who  fought  against  the  liberation. 

"Now  for  a  comparison.  Eleven  persons  are  forcibly 
restored  to  their  natural  and  inalienable  rights,  with  but 
one  man  killed.  .  .  .  It  is  currently  reported  that  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  has  made  requisition  upon  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Kansas  for  the  delivery  of  all  such  as  were  con- 
cerned in  the  last-named  'dreadful  outrage.'  The  Marshal 
of  Kansas  is  said  to  be  collecting  a  posse  of  Missouri  (not 
Kansas)  men  at  West  Point,  in  Missouri,  a  little  town  about 
ten  miles  distant,  to  'enforce  the  laws.'  All  pro-slavery, 
conservative  Free-State  and  dough-face  men,  and  adminis- 
tration tools,  are  filled  with  holy  horror. 

"Consider  the  two  cases,  and  the  action  of  the  adminis- 
tration party.  Respectfully  yours< 

JOHN  BROWN." 


THE  CYCLONE  OF  MAY  27,   1892. 

Wind  of  a  Kansas  plain, 

Breathing  thro1  ugh  fragrant  bowers, 
Whispering  of  sun  and  rain, 

Kissing  the  dew  from  the  flowers ; 
Over  the  grain-fields'  billowy  waves, 

Lifting  the  leaves  of  the  growing  corn  ; 
On  past  the  gorge's  rock-bound  caves, 

Where  the  howling  imps  of  the  storm  are  born. 
Hark  to  its  roar  agajn, 

Louder  and  louder  grown  ; 
Wind  of  the  Kansas  plain, 
Rushing  a  wild  cyclone. 


ThE  CYCLONE  OF  MAY  27,  1892.  139 

Beautiful  Kansas  town, 

Smiling  'mid  plenty  and  peace  ; 
Crowned  with  the  radiant  crown 
Of  hope  and  of  joy's  surcease. 
Music  and  laughter  of  radiant  youth, 

Mingled  with  voices  of  childhood  sweet ; 
Old  men  seeking  the  kernel  of  truth, 
Busily  throng  on  its  crowded  street. 
Ceaselessly  up  and  down 

Plodding  toward  the  tomb, 
Beautiful  Kansas  town, 

Waiting  the  stroke  of  doom. 

Bride  in  her  honeymoon, 
Joy  as  of  mating  birds, 
World  swinging  on  in  tune  — 

Airs  are  above  all  words. 
Warm  from  the  rapture  of  love's  embrace, 
Shadow  nor  cloud-drift  darken  the  way; 
Light  of  love's  morn  in  her  upturned  face, 
Growing  love's  growth  to  the  perfect  day. 
Chords  that  are  all  in  tune, 

Filled  is  their  heart's  desire, 
Bride  in  her  honeymoon  — 
Love  to  be  tried  by  fire. 

Sun  of  a  Kansas  morn, 

Shining  so  clear  and  bright ; 
Smiling  on  fields  of  corn, 

Filling  the  world  with  light. 
Upward,  still  rising,  he  laughs  and  smiles, 
Smiles  on  the  dust,  and  the  ruins  charred  ; 


140          A  COLLECTION  PRO  At  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

On  the  scattered  stones  and  the  smoking  piles, 
Where  the  grinning  specter  of  death  stands  guard. 
Smiles  on  the  hearts  forlorn, 

Where  man's  best  hopes  are  strown ; 
Sun  of  a  Kansas  morn, 

On  the  path  of  the  wild  cyclone. 

T.  S.  BROWN. 


THE  OLD   SOD  SHANTY  ON   THE  CLAIM. 

A   FRONTIER   SONG. 

TUNE — '•'•The  Little  Log  Cabin  in  tJie  Lane." 

I  ain  looking  rather  seedy  now,  while  holding  down  my 
claim, 

And  my  victuals  are  not  always  served  the  best, 
And  the  mice  play  slyly  round  me  in  my  shanty  on  the 
claim 

As  I  lay  me  down  alone  at  night  to  rest ; 
Yet  I  rather  like  the  novelty  of  living  in  this  way  — 

Though  my  bill-of-fare  is  always  rather  tame  — 
For  I  'm  happy  as  a  clam,  on  this  land  of  Uncle  Sam's, 

In  my  little  old  sod  shanty  on  the  claim. 

CHORUS  : 
The  hinges  are  of  leather,  and  the  windows  have  no  glass, 

While  the  roof  it  lets  the  howling  blizzards  in  ; 
And  I  hear  the  hungry  coyote,  as  he  sneaks  up  thro'  the 

grass, 
Hound  my  little  old  sod  shanty  on  the  claim. 


THE  OLD  SOD  SHANTY  ON  THE  CLAIM. 

But  when  I  left  my  Eastern  home,  so  happy  and  so  gay, 

To  try  and  win  my  way  to  wealth  and  fame, 
I  little  thought  that  I  'd  come  down  to  burning  twisted  hay 

In  my  little  old  sod  shanty  on  the  claim. 
My  clothes  are  plastered  o'er  with  dough,  I  'm  looking  like 
a  fright, 

And  everything  is  scattered  round  the  room ; 
And  I  fear  if  P.  T.  Barnum's  man  of  me  should  get  a  sight, 

He  would  take  me  from  my  little  cabin  home. 

Chorus. 

* 

I  wish  that  some  kind-hearted  miss  would  pity  on  me  take, 

In  this  mess,  and  extricate  me  from  the  same : 
The  angel  !   how  I  'd  bless  her  if  this  her  home  she  'd  make, 

In  my  little  old  sod  shanty  on  the  claim ; 
And  when  we  'd  make  our  fortunes  on  the  prairies  of  the 
West, 

Just  as  happy  as  two  bed-bugs  we  'd  remain ; 
And  we  'd  forget  our  trials  and  our  troubles  while  we  'd 
.  rest 

In  our  little  old  sod  shanty  on  the  claim. 

Chorus. 

If  now  and  then  a  little  heir  to  bless  our  lives  was  sent, 

Our  hearts  with  honest  pride  to  cheer  and  flame, 
We  would  surely  be  content  for  the  years  that  we  had  spent 

In  our  little  old  sod  shanty  on  the  claim ; 
And  after  years  elapse,  and  all  those  little  chaps 

To  men  and  honest  womanhood  have  grown, 
It  wo  n't  seem  half  so  lonely  if  a  dozen  cozy  cots 

Surround  our  old  sod  shanty  on  the  claim. 

Chorus. 


142  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


THE  WILD  SUNFLOWER 

At  early  dawn,  like  soldiers  in  their  places, 
Rank  upon  rank  the  golden  sunflowers  stand  ; 

Gazing  toward  the  east  with  eager  faces, 
Waiting  until  their  god  shall  touch  the  land 

To  life  and  glory,  longingly  they  wait, 

Those  voiceless  watchers  at  the  morning's  gate. 

Dawn's  portals  tremble  silently  apart ; 

Far  to  the  east,  across  the  dewy  plain, 
A  glory  kindles  that  in  every  heart 

Finds  answering  warmth  and  kindles  there  again ; 
And  rapture  beams  in  every  radiant  face 
Now  softly  glowing  with  supernal,  grace. 

And  all  day  long  that  silent  worship  lasts, 

And  as  their  god  moves  grandly  down  the  west, 

And  every  stem  a  lengthening  shadow  casts 
Toward  the  east,  ah,  then  they  love  him  best, 

And  watch  till  every  lingering  ray  is  gone, 

Then  slowly  turn  to  greet  another  dawn. 

ALBERT  BIGELOW  PAINE. 


HOW  WE  TOOK  TITUS.  143 


HOW  WE  TOOK  TITUS. 

August  16th,  1856. 

In  the  mists  of  the  morning  we  broke  up  our  camp 

Where  the  bluff  pierced  the  valley, 
And  the  prairie  resounded  with  rythmical  tramp 

Of  the  Northerners'  rally. 

For  the  hunted  had  turned, — we  had  suffered  too  long 

Their  rank  insolence  growing  ; 
Our  cup  of  submission  to  outrage  and  wrong 

Had  been  filled  to  o'erflowing. 

To  rob  us  of  ballot,  of  government  —  laws 

They  had  rushed  o'er  the  border, 
And  now  masqueraded  as  chiefs  in  the  cause, 

Of  "law"  and  of  "order." 

"For  'Free'  State  or  'Slave'  ye  may  vote  in  due  time," 

Was  the  fair  and  false  promise ; 

Now,  through  fraud  and  through  murder,  all  manner  of 
crime, 

They  had  stolen  law  from  us. 

And  we  said :   "  While  forever  we  shrink  and  we  yield, 

We  grow  weaker  —  not  stronger  — 
If  as  freemen  we  'd  live,  we  must  now  take  the  field ; 

We  '11  endure  it  no  longer !  " 

So  we  whipped  them  at  Franklin,  their  cannon  to  gain, 

("Sacramento,"  the  "talker,") 
And  on  to  Fort  Saunders,  where  Hoyt  they  had  slain, 

We  had  followed  Sam  Walker. 


A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Where  should  lightning  next  strike?   red  flame  blast  and 
burn  ? 

What  strongest  blow  right  us  ? 
Th'  insulter  of  freemen  must  now  bide  his  turn  — 
We  would  take  Colonel  Titus  ! 

So  we  broke  up  our  camp,  in  the  mists  of  the  morn, 

In  the  might  of  our  rally ; 
With  no  blast  of  bugle,  or  sounding  of  horn, 

We  marched  out  of  the  valley. 

With  silence  of  song-bird  the  daylight  had  broke, 

Lacking  carol  or  chorus ; 
As  a  child  in  its  sleep  Nature  smiled,  then  awoke, 

And  the  day  was  before  us. 

So  in  silence  we  press,  noting  rustle  nor  stir 

Of  scared  partridge  from  cover; 
We  stay  not  for  shot  "  on  the  wing  "  at  the  whir 

Of  wild  grouse  or  of  plover, 

We  pressed  up  the  slope  of  the  prairie's  long  swell ; 

But  our  horse  had  plunged  faster, 
And  charging  too  madly  the  stronghold  pellmell, 

They  had  met  sore  disaster. 

Ere  the  crest  of  the  last  ridge  we  fairly  might  gain 

We  could  hear  the  sharp  rattle ; 
Our  comrades  were  wounded,  brave  Shombre  was  slain 

In  first  onslaught  of  battle. 

Then  baffled  we  paused,  looking  downward  that  morn 

On  foe  safe  and  undaunted, 
Whose  solid  log  walls  laughed  our  bullets  to  scorn ; 

And  we  raged  and  we  taunted : 


HOW  WE   TOOK  TITUS.  145 

"  From  the  shield  of  your  covert  you  Ve  slain  our  true  men, 

O  chivalrous  Titus ! 
Now,  wolf  of  the  prairie,  corne  out  from  your  den, 

Come  out,  now,  and  fight  us !  " 

Still  sullen  and  silent  as  though  they  'd  ne'er  heard, 

The  foe  kept  their  cover, 

While  like  bloodhounds  in  leash,  our  men  chafed  for  the 
word 

To  bid  them  charge  over. 

But  blue-eyed  Sam  Walker  dashed  up  on  the  run, 

Crying  "  Steady,  boys,  steady  ! 
'Sacramento'  will  talk — just  unlimber  that  gun, 

Here  's  Tom  Bickerton  ready  !  " 

And  that  old  Yankee  sea-dog,  prone  to  his  fun, 

All  the  time  he  was  sighting, 
Grimly  pointed  his  jests  as  he  pointed  his  gun, 

"Now  our  wrongs  shall  have  righting!   . 

"Our  town  beat  you  down,  and  our  presses  you  broke  — 

Then  flung  in  the  river ; 

Free  speech  you  had  stifled  through  flame  and  through 
smoke  — 

You  thought  't  was  forever ! 

"For  your  burnings,  in  turn,  we  would  fain  make  it  warm 

For  your  party  this  morning ; 
And  I  '11  send  you  some  type  in  a  different  form  — - 

'Tis  the  type  of  your  scorning. 

"  Some  fonts  for  our  gun  I  had  gathered  of  late, 

For  I  thought  you  might  need  'em ; 
Here  's  the  issue  upon  you  of  'Kansas  Free  State,' 

A  new  'Herald  of  Freedom.'  " 


14:6          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Puff !   bang !   and  the  issue  straightforward  went  forth 

To  the  thick  walls  imbedded  ; 
Or  scattered  their  shingles,  then  plowed  up  the  earth  — 

For  that  type  was  well  "  leaded  " ! 

Another  —  that  dropped  through  the  roof  of  their  fort 

Sending  timbers  a-flying, 
Cries  of  anguish  and  fear  told  the  tale  of  its  hurt  — 

They  were  wounded  or  dying. 

At  the  peak  of  their  roof,  lo,  there  flutters  a  rag ! 

Is  it  truce  that  they  tender  ? 
No !  —  they  give  up  the  fight,  they  fling  out  a  flag, 

The  white  flag  of  surrender ! 

A  wild,  savage  shout !     Our  boys  dash  through  the  door, 
With  the  "Stubbs"  in  the  leading  — 

"  Hoy t !  "   "  Shombre  !  "  their  watchwords  for  vengeance 
the  more 

On.  their  foemen,  pale,  bleeding. 

But  Walker,  the  brave  and  true-hearted,  cries,  "Back! 

You  shall  not  kill  Titus ! 
They  are  pris'ners  of  war  whom  no  man  shall  attack, 

When  no  longer  they  fight  us." 

And  now  on  to  Lawrence !   our  morning's  work  done, 

With  our  captives  attendant. 
Thanks  be  it  to  Walker,  and  Bickerton's  gun, 

We  're  henceforth  in  ascendant ! 

Now  let  the  South  mourn  for  a  leader  o'erthrown  ! 

Lecornpte  now  may  rave  and  for  treason  indict  us  ! 
We  have  hostage  of  mark  to  exchange  for  their  own  — 

We  have  got  Colonel  Titus ! 

BKINTON  W.  WOODWARD. 


A  DREAM  OF  THE  SEA.  147 


A  DREAM  OF  THE   SEA. 

A  farmer  lad  in  his  prairie  home 

Lay  'dreaming  of  the  sea ; 
He  ne'er  had  seen  it,  but  well  he  knew 
Its  pictured  image  and  heavenly  hue ; 
And  he  dreamed  he  swept  o'er  its  waters  blue, 

With  the  winds  a-blowing  free, 

With  the  winds  so  fresh  and  free. 

He  woke!   and  he  said,  "The  day  will  come 

When  that  shall  be  truth  to  me." 
But  as  years  swept  by  him  he  always  found 
That  his  feet  were  clogged  and  his  hands  were  bound, 
Till  at  last  he  lay  in  a  narrow  mound, 

Afar  from  the  sobbing  sea, 

The  sorrowing,  sobbing  sea. 

Oh,  many  there  are  on  the  plains  to-night 

That  dream  of  a  voyage  to  be ; 
And  have  said  in  their  souls,    "The  day  will  come 
When  my  bark  shall  sweep  through  the  drifts  of  foam.' 
But  their  eyes  grow  dim  and  their  lips  grow  dumb, 

Afar  from  the  tossing  sea, 

The  turbulent,  tossing  sea. 

ALBERT  BIQELOW  PAINE. 


A    COLLECT/ON  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


.A  BORDER  MEMORY. 

We  had  moved  up  to  Palmyra, 

In  the  year  of  sixty-one, 
From  our  claim  on  the  Neosho 

When  our  harvesting  was  done. 

Then  my  husband  had  enlisted, 

All  his  heart  divinely  stirred,  • 
And  I  lived  but  for  the  children, 

And  to  hear  the  scanty  word 

That  came  slowly  back  to  Kansas 

From  his  precious  company, 
As  the  crimson-tide  of  battle 

Bore  it  onward  to  the  sea. 

Twelve  months  passed,  and  the  next  spring- 
time 

Came  with  clouds  of  denser  gloom, 
And  the  passion  on  the  prairies 

Broke  into  more  deadly  bloom ; 

And  the  summer  brought  the  terror 
Close  upon  the  shuddering  town, 

Of  the  bloody-handed  Quantrell 
On  the  country  sweeping  down. 

Day  by  day,  the  awful  menace 

Weighted  every  lingering  hour, 
And  we  slept  in  troubled  dreaming 

Qf  the  fierce  marauder's  power. 


A  BORDER  MEMORY.  149 

Night  by  night,  I  made  me  ready 

For  whatever  blow  might  fall, 
With  the  children  all  about  me, 

Trained  to  waken  at  my  call. 

And  I  gathered  strength  and  courage 

From  the  spirit  of  my  son, 
Such  a  bright,  intrepid  stripling — 

Ne'er  a  danger  he  would  shun. 

He  had  played  so  much  at  soldier, 

Marching  ever  in  the  van, 
He  had  taken  on  the  feeling 

And  the  valor  of  a  man. 

So  I  listened,  sad  and  shrinking, 

When  upon  a  weary  day 
He  came  in  all  flushed  and  eager, 

With  the  words  he  had  to  say : 

"All  the  men  are  clean  done  over, 
Watching  so  by  day  and  night, 
And  we  boys  are  going  on  duty  — 
We're  just  spoiling  for  a  fight. 

"But  they  say  there  is  no  danger  — 
Quantrell  's  clear  across  the  line, 
And  we  've  but  to  give  the  signal 
If  we  see  the  slightest  sign. 

"Jed.  and  I  — for  we  're  the  oldest  — 
Take  our  stand  at  Curran's  farm. 
You  don't  care  much,  do  you  mother  ? 
We'll  be  safe  enough  from  harm." 


150          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

So  I  stifled  ray  foreboding, 

Kissed  him  twice  and  let  him  go 

Out  into  the  somber  twilight, 
In  the  pride  that  mothers  know. 

Such  a  night !   all  torn  and  tortured 
By  a  host  of  nameless  fears, 

I  was  certain  every  minute 
There  would  fall  upon  my  ears 

The  abrupt  determined  ringing 
Of  the  heavy  college  bell 

Which  in  preconcerted  clamor 
Any  peril  was  to  tell. 

And  I  seemed  to  hear  the  echoes 
Of  the  warfare  far  away  ; 

All  its  horror,  doubly  dreadful, 
Pressed  upon  me  where  I  lay. 

But  at  length  I  slumbered  briefly, 
And  the  dawn  in  sweet  surprise 

Filtered  through  my  eastern  window, 
Falling  gently  on  my  eyes. 

Then  deploring  all  my  weakness, 
Since  no  evil  chance  had  come, 

I  rejoiced  in  the  glad  morning 

That  would  bring  my  darling  home ; 

So  to  give  him  instant  welcome 
I  flung  wide  tbe  outer  door, — 

And  I  found  him  'neath  the  trellis 
Lying  straight  upon  the  floor, 


A  BORDER  MEMORY.  151 

He  but  slept,  I  thought  in  wonder : 

It  was  death,  instead  of  sleep  ! 
Shot  down  by  a  passing  ruffian, 

He  had  still  the  power  to  creep 

Towards  the  town  so  gladly  guarded 

In  the  strength  he  loved  to  try, 
And  but  reached  the  dear  home-shelter, 

Spent  with  effort,  there  to  die. 

That  same  day  devoted  Lawrence 
Was  destroyed  by  Quantrell's  band ; 

I  was  only  one  of  many 

Smitten  by  a  murderous  hand, 

And  I  tell  the  story  calmly 

Now  so  many  years  have  passed, 

But  whoever  gives  such  life-blood 
Feels  the  anguish  to  the  last. 

Yet  the  sorrow  has  its  glory, 

Shining  steady  like  a  star  — 
All  the  world  had  need  of  Kansas, 

Consecrated  by  the  war. 

And  the  God  who  guides  our  battles 
Shaped  the  purpose  of  the  State ; 

We  have  bought  her  for  His  uses 
And  the  price  has  made  us  great. 

FLORENCE  L.  SNOW. 


152          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


KANSAS  WEATHER 

When  first  I  came  to  Kansas  State 

The  day  was  bright  and  warm  and  mellow, 

I  gamboled  o  'er  the  grassy  plain 

Like  any  happy,  jolly  fellow. 

The  wind  was  blowing  from  the  south  — 
A  pleasant,  gentle,  summer  breeze, 
Flowers  were  blooming  under  foot, 
And  birds  sat  singing  in  the  trees. 

I  put  my  linen  duster  on ; 
My  pants  were  thin,  my  hat  was  straw  ; 
I  loudly  praised  the  Kansas  weather, 
And  thought  it  best  I  ever  saw. 

I  then  went  out  to  take  a  ride  — 
Had  hardly  ridden  half  a  mile, 
The  sun  shone  out  so  dreadful  hot 
I  nearly  roasted  for  a  while. 

The  sweat  dropped  from  my  brow  and  chin  ; 
I  thought  I'd  seek  some  cooling  shades ; 
The  dust  had  settled  on  my  face, 
Till  I  was  black  as  ace  of  spades. 

A  cloud  then  hid  the  shining  sun  ; 
The  water  poured  —  it  did  not  rain  ; 
By  my  life,  I  thought  I'd  drown, 
And  never  see  my  home  again ! 


THE  FIELDS  OF  KANSAS.  153 

The  wind  then  shifted  to  the  north, 
And  chilled  me  to  my  very  bones ; 
The  drops  of  sweat  still  on  my  chin 
Were  frozen  hard  as  marble  stones. 

All  this  happened,  as  I  have  said, 
In  much  less  than  half  an  hour ; 
From  snow-drifts  coming  from  the  north 
To  rain  and  shine  and  blooming  flower. 

And  after  this,  when  e'er  I  roam, 
In  winter,  summer,  spring,  or  fall, 
You  '11  find  I  always  go  prepared 
To  meet  these  changes,  one  and  all. 

I  carry  a  fan  and  overcoat, 
A  linen  duster  to  cover  all ; 
Under  my  arm  you  '11  always  find 
A  water-proof  and  umbersoll. 

0.  S.  WHITE. 


THE  FIELDS  OF  KANSAS. 

Fair  is  thy  brow,  O  Prairie  Queen  ! 
Lovely  thy  garments,  gold  and  green. 

Glory  of  evening's  gates  ajar 

Rests  on  thy  landscapes  stretched  afar. 

Rests  on  thy  homestead  fields  that  spread 
Under  the  sunset's  gold  and  red. 


154  A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Pastures  green,  where  the  cattle  feed 
Side  by  side  with  the  stately  steed ; 

,  Meadows  wide,  where  the  tall,  thick  grass,  • 
Tosses  in  billows  as  swift  winds  pass ; 

Fields  of  clover,  all  red  and  sweet, 
(Soon  to  fall  at  the  mower's  feet) ; 

Shady  groves,  in  whose  cool  green  breasts, 
Farmhouses  hide  like  woodbird's  nests  ;  — 

All  these  things  do  my  eyes  behold, 
Touched  and  gilded  by  sunset  gold. 

All  are  lovely,  yet  lovelier  still, 
On  lowland  level,  on  breezy  hill  — 

Fairer  at  night  and  fairer  at  morn, 

Are  the  ripening  wheat  and  the  growing  corn. 

Ripening  wheat,  it  seems  to  me 
A  surging,  billowy,  golden  sea. 

How  it  welters  and  gleams  and  glows, 
Under  the  sunset's  gold  and  rose. 

Use  and  beauty  here  meet  and  greet  — 
Beautiful,  beautiful  field  of  wheat ! 

Skirting  the  wheat,  to  my  ear  is  borne 
The  rustle  of  winds  in  a  field  of  corn. 

Serried  and  ranked,  in  close  array, 
Stretching  afar,  away  and  away. 

Rich  and  glossy,  with  streamers  green, 
Giving  in  sunshine  sheen  for  sheen, 


WHEN  THE  SUNFLOWERS  BLOOM.  155 

Giving  in  moonlight  shifting  gleams, 
Like  sparkle  of  ripples  on  singing  streams ; 

Viewed  at  morning,  or  viewed  at  night, 
Holdeth  the  land  no  fairer  sight. 

Hoarding  the  sunshine,  drinking  the  rain  ; 
Braving  the  storms  that  sweep  the  plain  ; 

Glistening  now,  with  banners  spread, 
Under  the  sunset's  gold  and  red. 

Growing,  growing,  night,  noon  and  morn  — 
Beautiful,  beautiful  field  of  corn  ! 

ELLEN  P.  ALLERTON. 


WHEN  THE  SUNFLOWERS  BLOOM. 

I've  bin  off  on.  a  journey ;  I  jes'  got  home  to-day; 
I  traveled  east,  an'  north,  an'  south,  an'  every  other  way ; 
I  seen  a  heap  of  country,  an'  cities  on  the  boom, 
But  I  want  to  be  in  Kansas  when  the 
Sun- 
Flowers 

Bloom. 

You  may  talk  about  yer  lilies,  yer  vi'lets  and  yer  roses, 
Yer  asters,  an'  yer  jassymins  an'  all  the  other  posies ; 
I'll  allow  they  all  air  beauties  an'  full  'er  sweet  perfume, 
But  there's  none  of  'em  a  patchin'  to  the 
Sun- 
Flower's 

Bloom. 


156          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Oh,  it's  nice  among  the  mount'ins,  but  I  sorter  felt  shet  in  ; 
'T'ud  be  nice  upon  the  seashore  ef  it  wasn't  for  the  din ; 
While  the  prairies  air  so  quiet,  an'  there's  allers  lots  o' 

room, 

Oh,  its  nicer  still  in  Kansas  when  the 
Sun- 
Flowers 

Bloom. 

When  all  the  sky  above  is  jest  ez  blue  ez  blue  kin  be, 
An'  the  prairies  air  a  wavin'  like  a  yaller  driftin'  sea, 
Oh,  it's  there  my  soul  goes  sailin'  an'  my  heart  is  on  the 

boom, 

In  the  golden  fields  of  Kansas  when  the 
Sun- 
Flowers 

Bloom. 

ALBERT  BIGELOW  PAINE. 


A  MOUNTAIN  INCIDENT. 

One  bright  morning,  in  the  mountains  of  Colorado,  I 
stood  by  my  camp-fire  watching  several  companies  of  cav- 
alry as  they  rode  by  from  their  camp  of  the  night  before 
at  the  foot  of  Cochetopa  Pass.  Soldiers  and  commissary 
wagons  were  rapidly  winding  down  the  long  valley  we  had 
come  up  the  evening  before.  Two  men  came  out  of  a 
cabin  a  little  way  off,  where  the  prohibition  law  was  un- 
heard of,  and  approached  my  camp.  One  of  them  inter- 
ested me;  he  was  dressed  in  an  outlandish,  half-Indian 
costume,  and  looked  wild  enough,  yet  when  he  drew  near 
and  asked  permission  to  light  his  pipe  at  my  fire  he  spoke 


A  MOUNTAIN  INCIDENT.  157 

in  such  gentle  and  deferential  tones,  and  with  such  an  un- 
mistakable air  of  true  gallantry,  that  I  felt  some  woman, 
somewhere,  must  feel  proud  to  call  him  her  son. 

He  bowed  gracefully  as  he  bade  me  good  morning ;  he 
and  his  companion  returned  to  the  cabin,  untied  and 
mounted  their  horses,  and  rode  down  the  valley  after  the 
troops  like  a  cyclone.  They  talked  loudly,  and  finally  the 
trembling  air  bore  back  faint  sounds  of  terrific  Rocky 
Mountain  oaths. 

"Who  is  he?"  I  asked. 

UO,  that's  Oregon  Bill;  he  is  acting  as  guide  for  the 
troops.  He  is  a  good-for-nothing  drinking  brute,"  replied 
my  driver. 

At  our  noon  camp  we  were  overtaken  by  a  young  man 
on  horseback,  and  after  the  usual  greetings  were  passed, 
he  was  asked,  "Where  did  you  pass  the  troops?  " 

"Down  by  the  widder's,"  he  replied. 

"Why,  has  that  woman's  husband  not  got  back  yet?  " 

"No,  she's  alone  there  yet,  with  her  little  children,  and 
all  they  have  to  live  on  is  what  people  give  her  as  they 
pass.  Oregon  Bill  rode  up  to  her  door  and  gave  her  a 
ten-dollar  bill  and  then  rode  off  without  saying  a  word." 

I  felt  justified  for  my  partiality  for  the  dashing  stranger; 
and  quietly  fancied  that  sometimes  soft  angel  hands  rested 
in  blessing  upon  his  wayward  head.  I  thought  that  even 
he  might  be  linked  by  a  beautiful  chain  of  kind  and  gen- 
erous deeds  to  the  heart  of  infinite  love ;  and  when  the 
final  settlement  comes  to  him  —  as  it  will  to  all  —  though 
the  protest  may  be  entered,  "  He  was  wild  and  reckless,  un- 
converted ;  never  baptized,  either  by  immersion  or  sprink- 
ling," I  think  that  a  voice,  in  which  the  sweetest  music  of 
earth  and  heaven  blend,  will  be  heard :  "  I  was  hungry, 


158          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

and  he  gave  me  meat ;  thirsty,  and  he  gave  me  drink ; 
sick  at  heart,  and  in  the  prison  of  hard  circumstances,  on 
the  bleak,  lonely  mountain-side,  and  he  came  unto  me  ;  the 
brightness  of  his  kindly  deed  will  guide  his  footsteps  to  a 
higher  life.  Let  Oregon  Bill  pass." 

MES.  S.  K  WOOD. 


GOVERNOR  KEEDER'S  SPEECH. 

"  Day  by  day  a  crisis  approaches  us.  In  after-times  pos- 
terity will  view  this  as  a  turning-point  —  a  marked  period  — 
such  as  to  us  now  are  the  adoption  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  the  era  of  the  Alien  and  Sedition  laws. 
We  should  take  each  step  carefully,  so  that  each  shall  be 
a  step  in  the  way  of  progress,  and  so  that  no  violence  be 
done  to  the  tie  that  binds  the  American  people  together. 

"If  anyone  supposes  that  any  institutions  or  laws  can 
be  imposed  by  force  upon  a  free  and  enlightened  people, 
he  never  knew,  or  has  forgotten,  the  history  of  our  fore- 
fathers. American  citizens  bear  in  their  breasts  too  much 
of  the  spirit  of  other  and  trying  days,  and  have  lived  too 
long  amid  the  blessings  of  liberty,  to  submit  to  oppression 
from  any  quarter  ;  and  the  man  who,  having  once  been  free, 
can  tamely  submit  to  tyranny,  is  only  tit  to  be  a  slave. 

"I  urge  the  Free-State  men  of  Kansas  to  forget  all  minor 
issues,  and  pursue  with  determination  the  one  great  object, 
never  swerving,  but  ever  pressing  on,  as  did  the  wise  men 
who  followed  the  star  to  the  manger,  looking  back  only 
for  fresh  encouragement. 

"  I  counsel,  first,  that  peaceful  resistance  be  made  to  the 
tyrannical  and  unjust  laws  of  the  spurious  Legislature; 


GOVERNOR  REEDER'S  SPEECH.  159 

that  appeal  be  had  to  the  courts,  to  the  ballot-box,  and  to 
Congress  for  relief  from  this  oppressive  load  —  that  vio- 
lence be  deprecated  so  long  as  a  single  hope  of  peaceable 
redress  remains ;  and  at  last,  should  all  peaceful  efforts 
fail,  if,  in  the  proper  tribunals,  there  is  no  hope  for  our 
dearest  rights,  outraged  and  profaned  —  if  we  are  still  to 
suffer  that  corrupt  men  may  reap  harvests  watered  by  our 
tears,  then  there  is  one  more  chance  for  justice.  God  has 
provided,  in  the  eternal  frame  of  things,  redress  for  every 
wrong,  and  there  still  remains  to  us  the  steady  eye  and  the 
strong  arm,  and  we  must  conquer  or  mingle  the  bodies  of 
the  oppressors  with  those  of  the  oppressed  upon  the  soil 
which  the  Declaration  of  Independence  no  longer  protects. 
I  am  not  apprehensive  that  such  a  crisis  will  ever  arrive. 
I  believe  that  justice  may  be  found  far  short  of  so  dread- 
ful an  extremity,  and  even  should  an  appeal  to  arms  come, 
if  we  are  prepared,  that  moment  the  victory  is  won.  .  .  . 
"I  am  reluctant  to  believe  that  the  correct  public  senti- 
ment of  the  South  indorses  the  violent  wrongs  which  have 
been  perpetrated  by  Missourians  upon  the  people  of  this 
Territory,  and  I  wait  to  hear  its  rebuke.  Should  it  not 
come,  and  all  hope  of  moral  influence  to  correct  these  evils 
be  cut  off,  and  the  tribunals  of  our  country  fail  us,  while 
our  wrongs  still  continue,  what  then?  Will  they  have 
grown  easier  to  bear  from  long  custom  ?  God  forbid  that 
any  lapse  of  time  should  accustom  freemen  to  the  duties  of 
slaves,  and  when  such  fatal  danger  as  that  menaces,  then 
is  the  time  to  — 

"'Strike — for  your  altars  and  your  fires, 
Strike  —  for  the  green  graves  of  your  sires, 
God,  aud  your  native  land !'  " 

— Andreas'  History. 


160          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


THE  KANSAS  INDIAN'S  LAMENT. 

Onr  tribe  is  less'ning  year  by  year, 
The  paleface  drives  us  back — 

With  us,  the  bison,  bear,  and  deer 
Before  his  onward  track — 

In  battle  with  his  armed  power, 

The  Red  Man  fears  but  dares  now  cower. 

The  footprints  of  our  moc'sins  fade, 
They  once  left  paths  for  miles, 

And  the  Great  Spirit  hides  in  shade, 
No  more  we  see  his  smiles : 

Few  wampum  belts  our  tribe  needs  yet, 

For  soon  the  warrior's  star  will  set. 


These  broad  prairies  once  were  ours, 

We  fished  the  many  rivers ; 
On  yonder  Kaw,  embanked  with  flowers, 

With  arrows  in  our  quivers, 
With  dusky  maids,  wigwams  behind, 
We  sailed  before  the  singing  wind. 

The  sunflower  waved  its  yellow  head, 

Across  the  grassy  plains — 
And,  like  our  chieftain,  now  are  dead. 

The  spirit  herbs  for  pains : 
Paleface,  our  mild  clime  's  not  for  thee, 
It  moves,  with  us,  toward  sundown  sea. 


THE  KAASAS  INDIANA  LAMENT. 

Our  moons  are  few,  our  race  is  run, 
Some  dark  fate  drags  us  down  ; 

Less  bright  the  once  all-glorious  sun, 
The  golden  stars  are  brown  — 

The  tall  mounds  black  and  dismal  loom, 

Each  day  speaks  of  our  coming  doom. 

Our  wasted  race,  —  my  father  brave, 

My  squaw  and  pappoose  too, 
All  here  lie  buried  in  the  grave, 

Here  rots  my  swift  canoe. 

Methinks  the  paleface  might  have  spared 
Some  spot  where  we  'd  abide,  — 

Spared  us,  who  once  owned  all,  and  shared 
With  them  from  tide  to  tide  : 

'Tis  strange,  'tis  passing  strange  to  me, 

Why  they  would  drive  us  in  the  sea. 

Our  small  tribe  's  scattered  like  the  leaves 
And  wasted  to  a  few  — 

% 

Each  warrior  for  the  bright  past  grieves, 

Which  vanished  from  our  view  ! 
They  wait  till  Manitou's*  voice  sounds, 
Calling  to  Happy  Hunting  Grounds. 


We  go  !  the  White  Race  takes  our  place  ; 

Great  Spirit,  what  am  I  ! 
Once  thousands  strong,  where  's  now  my  race 

On  plains  beyond  the  sky? 
O  take  me  too,  I  would  not  stay, 
When  all  I  loved  have  passed  away  ! 

*  Great  Spirit. 


162          *    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Perchance,  when  many  moons  have  fled 
And  the  Great  Spirit's  wrath, 

Our  many  loved  ones,  from  the  dead, 
Will  come  back  to  earth's  path, 

To  hunt  again  the  buffalo, 

And  no  pale  race  to  bring  us  woe. 

But  soft !   methinks  I  hear  a  voice? 

Great  Maniton's!  speaks  He! 
It  makes  my  craven  heart  rejoice  — 

O  what  wouldst  Thou  with  me? 
"Be  brave!  God's  Happy  Hunting  Grounds 
Are  great  and  good,  and  have  no  bounds !  " 
THOMAS  BEOWEK  PEACOCK. 


LAWRENCE  RAID. 

A  sound  of  weeping  is  in  the  wind, 

A  smell  of  blood  upon  the  air ; 
Oh,  list  to  the  hoof-beats  of  a  horse, 

And  hark  to  a  mother's  prayer. 
The  bunch-grass  is  redder  than  the  rose, 

The  wild  bee  is  flying  afar ; 
While  up  in  the  sky  a  bank  of  cloud 

Seems  trying  to  put  out  a  star. 

An  avalanche  riding  to  Lawrence  — 
The  horse  and  the  rider  as  one; 

The  earth  seems  to  quiver  with  anguish, 
And  God  holds  his  breath  in  the  sun  ; 


GOLDEN  ROD  IN  KANSAS.  163 

The  eagle  of  Freedom  is  wounded, 

And  flieth  so  heavy  and  low ; 
While  all  of  the  demons  of  blackness 

Are  blowing  their  trumpets  of  woe. 

The  torch  was  aflame,  and  the  houses 

Were  turning  to  columns  of  smoke; 
The  crack  of  the  rifles  was  knelling 

The  pain  of  sad  hearts  that  were  broke. 
Then  heroes  lay  down  like  the  rushes, 

So  quietly  taking  their  rest ; 
With  red  blood  the  earth  became  drunken, 

Shed  by  martyrs  asleep  on  her  breast. 

That  day  Death  laughed  out  her  shrillest, 

While  devils  went  mad  in  their  glee  ; 
Yet  a  minor  chord  in  the  music 

Was,  "Kansas  is  born  to  be  free." 
And  Lawrence  uprose  like  the  Phoenix, 

No  smell  of  the  fire  on  her  gown  ; 
She  triumphed,  and  now  is  the  victor; 

We  braid  and  she  weareth  a  crown. 

ELLEN  PATTON. 


GOLDEN  KOD  IN  KANSAS. 

Again  the  rains  have  come, 
And  all  the  earth  revives, 
And  over  fields  and  prairies 
The  golden  rod  now  thrives. 


164  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Sweet  Kansas  golden  rod, 
What  scepters  bright  you  lift, 
In  every  vacant  corner, 
With  growing  things  adrift. 

You  herald  in  our  autumn, 
And  cheerfully  essay, 
With  richest  gold  our  prairies 
And  our  orchards  to  array. 

Oh,  hardy  little  flower ! 
You  speak  of  courage  clear, 
And  hint  to  us  a  lesson 
To  light  life's  fading  year. 

AD.  II.  GIBSON. 


TO  A  KANSAS  REDBIRD. 

With  coat  of  brightest  flame, 
You  're  singing  in  the  hedge, 
All  gray  and  leafless  now ; 
Then  through  the  frost-killed  sedge, 
And  through  the  orchard  bare, 
From  apple  tree  to  peach, 
You  wing  a  graceful  flight 
Some  half-hid  bough  to  reach. 

There,  only  partly  screened 
From  watchful  human  gaze, 
You  carol  forth  delightful  strains 
All  through  the  winter  days. 


WALLS  OF  CORN.  165 

No  sweeter  bird  is  there  than  he 
To  gladden  Kansas  homes  ; 
With  scarlet  coat  and  silvery  notes, 
Our  prairies  free  he  roams. 

AD.  H.  GIBSON. 


WALLS  OF  CORN. 

Smiling  and  beautiful,  heaven's  dome 
Bends  softly  over  our  prairie  home. 

But  the  wide,  wide  lands  that  stretched  away 
Before  my  eyes  in  the  days  of  May ; 

The  rolling  prairie's  billowy  swell, 
Breezy  upland  and  timbered  dell ; 

Stately  mansion  and  hut  forlorn  — 
All  are  hidden  by  walls  of  corn. 

All  the  wide  world  is  narrowed  down 
To  walls  of  corn,  now  sere  and  brown. 

What  do  they  hold  —  these  walls  of  corn, 
Whose  banners  toss  in  the  breeze  of  morn  ? 

He  who  questions  may  soon  be  told  — 
A  great  state's  wealth  these  walls  enfold. 

No  sentinels  guard  these  walls  of  corn, 
Never  is  sounded  the  warder's  horn  ; 


166  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Yet  the  pillars  are  hung  with  gleaming  gold, 
Left  all  unbarred,  though  thieves  are  bold. 

Clothes  and  food  for  the  toiling  poor ; 
Wealth  to  heap  at  the  rich  man's  door; 

Meat  for  the  healthy,  and  balm  for  him 
Who  moans  and  tosses  in  chamber  dim ; 

Shoes  for  the  barefooted,  pearls  to  twine 
In  the  scented  tresses  of  ladies  fine ; 

Things  of  use  for  the  lowly  cot, 

Where  (bless  the  corn)  want  cometh  not; 

Luxuries  rare  for  the  mansion  grand, 
Booty  for  thieves  that  rob  the  land ;  — 

All  these  things,  and  so  many  more, 

It  would  fill  a  book  but  to  name  them  o'er, 

Are  hid  and  held  in  these  walls  of  corn, 
Whose  banners  toss  in  the  breeze  of  morn. 

Where  do  they  stand,  these  walls  of  corn 
Whose  banners  toss  in  the  breeze  of  morn? 

Open  the  atlas,  conned  by  rule, 

In  the  olden  days  of  the  district  school. 

Point  to  this  rich  and  bounteous  land, 
That  yields  such  fruits  to  the  toiler's  hand. 

"Treeless  desert"  they  called  it  then, 
Haunted  by  beasts  and  forsook  by  men. 


BEAUTIFUL  ThINGS.  167 

Little  they  knew  what  wealth  untold 

Lay  hid  where  the  desolate  prairies  rolled. 

Who  would  have  dared,  with  brush  or  pen, 
As  this  land  is  now,  to  paint  it  then  ? 

And  how  would  the  wise  ones  have  laughed  in  scorn, 
Had  prophet  foretold  these  walls  of  corn. 
Whose  banners  toss  in  the  breeze  of  morn  ! 

MKS.  ELLEN  P.  ALLERTON. 


BEAUTIFUL  THINGS. 

Beautiful  faces  are  those  that  wear  — 
It  matters  little  if  dark  or  fair  — 
Whole-souled  honesty  printed  there. 

Beautiful  eyes  are  those  that  show, 

Like  crystal  panes  where  hearth-tires  glow, 

Beautiful  thoughts  that  burn  below. 

Beautiful  lips  are  those  whose  words 
Leap  from  the  heart  like  songs  of  birds, 
Yet  whose  utterance  prudence  girds. 

Beautiful  hands  are  those  that  do 
Work  that  is  earnest  and  brave  and  true, 
Moment  by  moment  the  long  day  through. 

Beautiful  feet  are  those  that  go 
On  kindly  ministries  to  and  fro, 
Down  lowliest  ways  if  God  wills  it  so. 


1  68  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KAXSAS  AUTHORS. 

Beautiful  shoulders  are  those  that  bear 
Ceaseless  burdens  of  homely  care, 
With  patient  grace  and  daily  prayer. 

Beautiful  twilight  at  set  of  sun, 
Beautiful  goal  with  race  well  won, 
Beautiful  rest  with  work  well  done. 

Beautiful  graves  where  grasses  creep, 

Where  brown  leaves  fall,  where  drifts  lie  deep, 

Over  worn-out  hands !     Ah,  beautiful  sleep. 

MRS.  ALLEETON. 


IN  THE  EAK,  OR  IN  THE  JUG. 

Farmer  Boggs  planted  some  new  seed-corn  last  spring, 
imported  from  a  far-distant  land,  and  as  the  result  gath- 
ered two  thousand  bushels  from  twenty  acres ;  and  he  took 
a  wagon-load  to  the  country  town  to  exchange  for  some 
necessaries  of  life. 

He  had  just  entered  the  main  business  street,  when  a 
saloon-keeper  hailed  him  and  inquired  the  price  of  his  corn. 

"Forty  cents  a  bushel,"  said  Boggs. 

"  But  I  can  get  plenty  of  corn  for  thirty,"  replied  the 
dealer  in  liquid  goods. 

"Not  such  corn  as  this,"  said  the  farmer.  "This  is  a 
new  kind  —  grown  from  imported  seed.  Nothing  like  it 
in  the  State." 

"All  right, "said  the  saloon-keeper.  "I  will  take  it,  as 
I  have  the  best  family  horse  in  the  country,  and  he  shall 


IN  THE  EAR,  OR  IN  THE  JUG.  169 

have  the  very  best  corn  in  the  market ;  so  you  may  drive 
around  to  my  barn  and  throw  the  corn  in  the  crib,  and 
while  there  please  tell  John,  my  hired  man,  to  give  old 
Faithful  a  good  feed,  and  have  him  hitched  up  by  2  o'clock, 
for  I  want  to  take  my  wife  and  two  children  out  riding  this 
afternoon." 

Boggs  unloaded  the  corn  as  directed  —  got  his  pay  for 
it,  made  a  few  purchases,  and  left  for  home  —  while  John 
promptly  at  2  o'clock  hitched  old  Faithful  to  the  phaeton. 
But  as  the  saloon-keeper,  his  wife  and  two  little  daughters 
were  getting  into  the  vehicle,  old  Faithful's  eyes  flashed 
like  fire  ;  he  reared  up  on  his  hind  feet,  snorted  like  a  loco- 
motive, and  it  was  all  John  could  do  to  hold  him.  At  last, 
when  all  were  fairly  seated,  John  was  told  to  let  him  go, 
and  off  went  old  Faithful  down  the  street,  wholly  unman- 
ageable, until  suddenly  turning  a  corner,  over  went  the 
phaeton,  smashed  into  splinters,  and  its  occupants  sent 
sprawling  into  the  street. 

While  the  bruised  and  battered  family  was  being  picked 
up  and  cared  for,  a  crowd  of  men  succeeded  in  capturing 
old  Faithful.  A  veterinary  surgeon  was  called,  and  as  he 
took  hold  of  the  bit,  old  Faithful's  breath  struck  him  fully 
in  the  face ;  he  smiled,  and  said:  "There  is  nothing  the 
matter  with  the  horse,  only  he  is  drunk."  Drunk  on  that 
new  kind  of  corn. 

The  next  day  the  farmer,  ignorant  of  what  had  hap. 
pened,  took  another  load  to  town  ;  stopped  at  the  saloon, 
but  the  proprietor  was  not  in.  He  then  drove  around  to 
his  residence,  rang  the  bell,  and  the  saloon-keeper,  with  a 
patch  over  one  eye,  his  arm  in  a  sling,  nose  mashed,  hob- 
bled to  the  door,  and  was  asked  by  Boggs  if  he  did  n't  want 
to  buy  another  load  of  corn? 


170  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Raising  a  crutch,  he  ejaculated:  "Corn  —  corn!  do  I 
look  as  if  I  needed  any  more  of  that  kind  of  corn?  Look 
at  my  wife  there  with  a  broken  arm.  See  my  darling  little 
angels  bruised  beyond  recognition.  See  my  three-hundred- 
dollar  phaeton  smashed  into  everlasting  smithereens,  and 
old  Faithful  so  humiliated  and  ashamed  that  he  can't  look 
decent  people  in  the  face,  and  then  dare  to  ask  me  if  / 
want  any  more  corn ;  get  out  of  here,  you  villainous  old 
clodhopper,  or  I  '11  set  my  big  dog  on  you ! " 

Boggs  had  two  thousand  bushels  of  that  kind  of  corn. 
He  had  depended  upon  it  to  lift  the  mortgage  off  his  farm, 
but  now  it  seemed  that  all  was  lost. 

He  went  to  a  lawyer,  and  told  him  his  story.  The  law- 
yer informed  him  that  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  take  out  a 
license.  A  petition  was  at  once  prepared  and  the  farmer 
started  out  to  get  signers. 

He  went  first  to  the  saloon-keepers,  supposing  that  they 
would  sign  without  a  word.  But  he  was  mistaken. 

Instead  of  signing  his  petition,  they  with  one  accord 
declared  that  any  man  who  would  sell  that  kind  of  corn  to 
be  fed  to  a  dumb  brute  was  worse  than  a  heathen. 

Even  the  deacons  refused  to  sign,  declaring  that  they 
could  not  stand  it  to  see  a  colt  humiliate  and  disgrace  its 
mother  by  reeling  through  the  public  streets ;  or  hear  a 
cow  bawl  at  the  sight  of  her  besotted  calf ;  while  a  min- 
ister, with  a  look  of  indignation  that  was  indescribable, 
said  in  thunder  tones,  that  if  his  party  ever  licensed  the 
sale  of  that  kind  of  corn  he  would  never  vote  its  ticket 
again,  and  then  he  quoted  Scripture  about  no  drunkard 
entering  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and,  as  a  final  crusher,  he 
asked  Boggs  what  would  become  of  all  the  poor  dumb 


BLEEDING  KANSAS'  DAYS.  .         171 

brutes,  if  we  licensed  the  sale  of  that  kind  of  corn.  Then 
he  wept. 

Poor  Boggs,  discouraged,  returned  to  the  office,  dropped 
the  petition  on  the  table,  sank  into  a  chair  as  he  exclaimed  : 
"Personal  liberty  is  a  myth." 

The  lawyer,  moved  by  sympathy,  as  lawyers  always  are, 
put  on  his  best  thinking -cap.  Iq  a  moment  his  counte- 
nance beamed  with  joy ;  he  slapped  Boggs  good-naturedly 
on  the  back  and  said :  "  Brighten  up,  old  boy,  I  've  got 
an  idea.  A  capital  idea,  too ;  one  that  lets  you  out  slick 
and  clean,  saves  your  farm,  and,  above  all,  preserves  your 
personal  liberty.  You  proceed  at  once  to  draw  that  corn 
to  the  distillery,  have  it  made  into  whisky  —  and  then  cir- 
culate your  petition  for  a  license  to  sell  the  whisky,  and 
they  will  all  sign  it,  and  thus  the  dumb  brutes  will  be  pro- 
tected, personal  liberty  perpetuated,  and,  besides  all  that, 
such  a  course  will  not  hurt  the  party.  You  see  it  all 
depends  upon  whether  the  corn  is  sold  in  a  solid  or 
liquid  state."  JOHN  p<  S 


BLEEDING  KANSAS'  DAYS. 

"Union  Soldier"  and  "Unknown,"  the  marble  said, 
An  incomplete  but  perfect  story  of  the  dead. 
While  little  Annie  sat  upon  the  mound  and  played, 
And  strewed  her  flowers  upon  the  sod,  her  hand  was 

stayed  ; 
"What  zat  say?"  asked  she,  pointing  to  the  modest 

praise. 
"It  tells,"  said  Uncle  Tom,  "of  Bleeding  Kansas'  days." 


172          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

"  Oh,  tell  us,"  cried  the  younger  Tom,  "about  the  fights, 
And  why  they  fought,  and  what  they  did,  and  all  the 

sights." 

The  old  man  feebly  smiled,  and  said  with  honest  pride  : 

"I  do  not  know  —  there  were  so  many  men  that  died  — 

So  many  wrongs  were  done  —  they  strove  so  many 

ways  — 
'Tis  hard  to  tell  the  fights  of  Bleeding  Kansas'  days. 

"And  yet  we  fought  them  well,  and  thought  we  held 

our  own, 

And  when  we  lost,  a  shout  went  up,  and  ne'er  a  moan  ; 
We  thought  we  fought  for  right — we  knew  we  loved 

the  cause — 
We  shouted,  fought  and  prayed  —  we  had  no  time  to 

pause 

And  learn  how  others  strove ;  in  loyal  battle's  haze 
We  struggled  fiercely  in  those  Bleeding  Kansas'  days. 

"They  came  upon  us  once  to  burn  the  homes  we  had, 
Came  plundering,  killing  women  and  their  babes — 

thieves  mad ; 

We  rallied,  beat  them,  caught  the  leader  of  the  band ; 
He  died  —  the  corn  grows  larger  on  yon  sacred  land  — 
We  could  not  see  our  houses  burned,  and  only  gaze ; 
We  had  to  kill  men  in  those  Bleeding  Kansas'  days. 

"Live  those,"  he  said,  "who  do  not  love  a  state  thus 

made  — 

Whose  hearts  throb  not  in  anxious  hope  ?     Can  such 
pride  fade  ? 


TAKE  HEART.  173 

Who  fails  in  these  things  could  not  fight  where  patriot 

falls; 

Devoid  of  honor  !  such  men  fill  our  prisons'  walls. 
Ah,  there  were  heroes  then ;  who  thinks  their  faith 

decays  ? 
Who  fight  as  we  fought  in  those  Bleeding  Kansas' 

days?" 

His  eyes  grew  dim  —  no  woman's  face  could  sweeter  be ; 

None  moved  or  spoke,  till  Annie  climbed  upon  his 
knee ; 

She  stroked  his  beard,  repeating  o'er  in  plaintive  croon, 
"What  zat  say  ?  "  pointing  to  the  words  in  marble  hewn. 
"The  tale,"  said  he,  "of  one  who  died  in  active  praise 

Of  what  we  fought  to  build  in  Bleeding  Kansas'  days.'" 

CARL  BRANN. 


TAKE  HEAKT. 

Why  court  the  shadows,  friends, 
And  grope  in  gloom  and  fear? 

Take  heart ;  look  always  upward, 
Where  the  sun  is  beaming  clear. 

We  were  not  meant  to  languish, 

And  yield  to  dark  despair ; 
The  cloudy  days  are  sent 

To  make  us  prize  the  fair. 

AD.  H.  GIBSON. 


174          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


THE  MODEL  OLD   COUPLE. 

There  never  was  a  wedded  pair 
That  equaled  Dad  and  Mam ; 

In  harvesting  he  capped  the  sheaf, 
In  spanking  she  took  the  palm. 

She  used  to  scour  the  pots  and  pans, 
While  he  would  scour  the  hills ; 

She  footed  all  the  stockings, 
And  he  footed  all  the  bills. 

No  vices  marred  his  perfect  health, 
Or  made  his  eyes  grow  dim ; 

The  filthy  weed  that  others  chewed, 
It  was  eschewed  by  him. 

He  never  loafed  about  the  town, 

In  wrangle  or  dispute  ; 
And  when  he  wished  to  go  ahead, 

He  often  went  afoot. 

The  dumb  and  helpless  beasts  of  toil 
Received  his  kindest  care  ; 

Of  nights  he  'd  shed  his  cattle,  and 
The  cattle  shed  their  hair. 

He  said :    "This  little  rule  I  find, 
Will  win,  and  seldom  lose ; 

My  P's  and  Q's  I  always  mind, 
And  also  mind  my  ewes." 


THE  MODEL  OLD  COUPLE.  175 

Said  he:    "Each  day  I  never  fail, 

To  thank  the  Lord  anew ; 
He  gives  to  us  His  rain,  and  we 

Should  give  to  Him  His  due." 

With  love  towards  her  little  flock, 

Her  heart  would  overflow ; 
And  when  the  children  needed  bread, 

She  always  kneaded  dough. 

If  any  scandal  reached  her  ears, 

While  busy  with  her  yarn, 
She  said  she  didn't  give  a  snap — 

And  then  she  gave  a  darn. 

Said  she:    "My  neighbors'  little  sins 

Do  not  my  spirit  vex  ; 
In  other  eyes  I  see  no  beam 

If  mine  are  without  specs." 

Some  said  her  dairy  was  her  god  — 

But  who  our  hearts  can  tell  ? 
If  work  to  worship  is  akin, 

She  loved  her  cheeses  well. 

At  last,  when  this  contented  pair 

Had  old  and  feeble  grown, 
He  sat  him  down  and  made  his  will  — 

She  had  one  of  her  own. 

SOL.  MILLER. 


176          *    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


A  CHUKCH-BELL  OF  MANHATTAN. 

[In  the  spring  of  1855  the  steamer  Hartford  arrived  at  Manhattan, 
Kansas,  with  settlers  from  Cincinnati.  On  the  return  voyage  she  was 
wrecked  and  burned  near  St.  Marys.  The  bell  of  the  steamer  was  res- 
cued by  Judge  Pipher,  for  the  Methodist  church,  and  still  calls  to  wor- 
ship the  congregation  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.] 

There  's  a  bell  that  in  the  steeple 

Of  a  city  church  doth  hang, 
And  I  hear  the  waters  flowing 

As  I  listen  to  its  clang. 

Once  upon  a  river  steamer 

Hung  this  consecrated  bell,  . 
And  its  iron  music  mingled 

With  the  river's  sweep  and  swell. 

And  that  steamer  to  this  city 

Brought  the  hardy  pioneers ; 
Then  adown  the  shallow  river, 

Homeward-bound  the  vessel  steers. 

But  the  boat  that  has  ascended 

Streams  for  thousand  miles  or  more, 

Meets  with  wreck  and  conflagration, 
On  the  Kansas  river  shore. 

Yet  the  bell  somehow  was  rescued, 
And  secured  by  one  who  thought 

Faith  in  God,  in  all  beginnings, 
Should  profoundly  be  inwrought. 


THE  REUNION  AT  W1DDY  MACHREE' S.  177 

Years  the  bell  hung  in  the  steeple, 

And  companion  bell  was  none ; 
By  its  voice  to  worship  calling, 

Who  can  tell  what  hearts  were  won ! 

Rude  no  longer  is  the  region, — 

Lies  a  city  in  the  vale ; 
And  the  bells  from  many  steeples 

With  their  peal  the  ear  assail. 

But  I  listen  for  the  ringing 

Of  the  old  historic  bell, 
And  I  hear  in  its  vibrations 

How  the  waters  sweep  and  swell. 

IDA  A.  AHLBORN. 


THE  REUNION  AT  WIDDY  MACHREE'S. 

Och,  Mary,  mavourneen,  what 's  this  that  ye'r  tellhr? 

The  blue-coated  soldiers  are  coming  to-day — 
Are  drivin'  their  stakes  just  furninst  of  me  dwellin' 

To  hold  a  reunion — is  that  what  ye  say? 

An'  me  with  my  rheumatiz  kapin  me  quiet ! 

Scarce  able  to  stir  from  me  chair  or  me  bed ! 
Now  over  me  primises  sure  they'll  run  riot, 

And  chate  ivery  eye-tooth  jist  out  of  me  head. 


178          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

There 's  the  hins,  sure  they'll  lave  of  thim  niver  a  feather, 
And  me  turkeys,  as  foine  ones  as  iver  ye  see ; 

The  ducks  an'  the  geese  too,  they  '11  all  go  togither, 
Och,  sorra  the  day  to  the  Widdy  Machree. 

There 's  me  garden  of  cabbages,  beets  and  tomaties, 
That  I  Ve  planted  an'  watered  an'  tinded  so  well ; 

Sure  they  '11  gather  the  banes  an'  they'll  dig  the  peraties, 
An'  lave  of  me  onions  now  niver  a  shmell. 

In  me  melon  patch  thrifty  the  spalpeens  will  frolic, 
And  ate  all  me  cucumbers,  groin'  so  foine ; 

Could  I  hear  ivery  wan  of  thim  shcrame  wid  the  colic, 
I'd  niver  begrudge  thim  that  fruit  of  the  vine. 

Run,  Mary,  acushla,  as  fahst  as  ye  'er  able, 
And  shut  up  the  pigs  in  the  cellar  to  shtay ; 

Put  the  hins,  geese  an'  turkeys  an'  ducks  in  the  shtable, 
And  lock  the  door,  darlint,  an'  bring  me  the  kay. 

Do  n't  stop  now,  for  whisht !  yes,  I  hear  thim  a  comin'! 

There's  the  fife  an'  the  bugle  —  Och,  wirra  the  day ! 
Sure  my  heart's  batin  fahst  at  the  sound  of  the  drummin' 

That  brings  back  the  time  whin  me  Pat  wint  away. 

Whin  he  wore  the  blue  coat,  wid  the  buttons  and  trimmm1 
And  carried  the  flag  wid  an  Irishman's  joy — 

Oh,  the  ould  times  come  back,  an'  me  eyes  are  a  dimmin' 
Whin  I  look  at  the  sojers  an'  think  of  me  boy. 

See  !  they  're  marchin'  in  now,  wid  the  drum  still  a  batin' : 
An'  was  I  begrudgin'  me  banes  an'  all  that, 

An'  the  trifle  of  mate  that  the  boys  wad  be  atin', 
Who  followed  the  ould  flag  along  wid  me  Pat? 


KANSAS.  179 

An'  me  turkeys  an'  bins,  was  I  tryin'  to  hide  thim? 

An'  countin'  the  likes  of  a  pratie  or  egg, 
To  the  boys  wid  the  empty  sleeve  hangin'  beside  thim, 

Or  hobblin'  about  on  a  stump  of  a  leg? 

Bad  luck  to  me  now  for  a  stingy  ould  hathen  ! 

Go,  open  the  doors  an'  set  ivery  thing  free; 
An' — but  here    comes  the  captin  —  I'm  wantin'  to   say 
t'him, 

"The  top  of  the  mornin'  from  Widdy  Machree. 

"There's  the  fruit  an'  the  fowls  an'  the  bit  of  a  garden  ; 

There 's  the  foine  pigs  for  roastin';  and  now,  do  ye  mind, 
Niver  shtop  to  be  axin'  me  lave  or  me  pardon, 

But  take  all  ye  want  —  take  the  best  you  can  find. 

"Take  freely  an'  welcome,  thin  wad  you  remember, 
An'  ould  Irish  comrade,  bould,  gallant,  an'  true, 

Who  fell  at  Antietam  wan  day  in  September, 
While  houldin'  the  banner  an'  wearin  the  blue." 

MAGGIE  MACKILMEB. 


KANSAS. 

What  time  the  clouds  of  Liberty's  duress 
Hung  darkly  o'er  its  mighty  wilderness, 

Then  fled^  in  storm,  leaving  a  wondrous  light 
Like  morn  of  splendor  flashed  from  ray  less  night, 

Under  the  lullaby  of  waving  grass 

What  powers  slept,  what  life,  what  loveliness  J 


180  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

O'er  the  wide  grave  divinest  incense  blew 
As  flower  goblets  spilled  their  perfumed  dew  ; 

And  sacrament  was  in  the  mystic  spell 
Of  solitude  rife  with  the  invisible. 

Silence  sublime  !    poetic  mood  of  earth 
Ere  flower  roots  turn  gems  of  human  worth. 

But  list,  wild  roses  !   hear  the  rushing  wing 
That  fans  to  life  more  glorious  blossoming ! 

The  purple  seas,  presto  !  were  green  and  gold 
As  magic  like  the  billowy  map  unrolled ; 

The  starry  pendulum  of  destiny 

Swung  wide,  driven  by  the  winds  of  Liberty. 

For  Freedom's  angel  'twas  whose  tempest  sweep 
Awaked  the  prairies  from  their  deathful  sleep, 

And  o'er  their  portals  crossed  the  shining  words, 
"Virtue,  courage,  culture,"  as  sentry  swords. 

And  now,  the  fantasies  of  Freedom's  thought 
On  nature's  page  in  forms  ^,nd  colors  wrought, 

Mirror  in  the  blue  depths  of  matchless  skies 
The  shadow  of  an  earthly  paradise ; 

And  fix  upon  our  country's  flag  a  star, 

Like  Yenus  shines  in  peace,  like  Mars  in  war. 

A.  A.  B.  CAVANESS. 


SELECTIONS  FROM  "TWO  PICTURES." 


JAMES  MONTGOMERY. 

Montgomery,  thy  manly  shade 

Now  rests  in  peace.     The  sacred  grove 
Now  decorates  thy  grave  in  love ; 
And  weeping  waters  gurgling  move 

Close  to  thy  feet  where  thou  art  laid. 

Thy  watchful  eyes  and  daring  hand 
Guarded  the  way  for  Liberty  — 
Here  at  the  gates  of  Linn  we  see 
Thy  stalwart  blade  and  standard  high, 

As  thou  a  sentinel  didst  stand  ! 

Sweet  be  thy  rest !     And  while  the  years 
Roll  round,  thy  i  ;me  in  memory  green 
Shall  live,  and  here  each  year  be  seen 
Thy  comrades  come,  and  o'er  thee  lean, 

And  drop  the  tribute  of  their  tears. 

—  From  '•'•Song  of  Kansas." 


SELECTIONS  FROM  "TWO  PICTURES;  A  CEN- 
TENNIAL POEM." 

Wedded  to  Freedom  on  her  hundredth  birthday ! 

Mature  in  years,  and  life  aglow  with  health, 
Bright  buds  of  hope  are  blooming  on  her  pathway, 

Prophetic  promise  of  her  future  wealth ! 
Her  home  —  a  continent  of  God's  creating, 

Her  dower  —  primeval  nature's  boundless  store 


A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Of  soil  productive,  and  rich  mines  awaiting 

To  lay  their  buried  treasures  at  her  door. 
Her  pride  —  the  inem'ry  of  the  noble  martyrs, 

Whose  blood  baptized  the  realm  of  liberty. 
Her  strength  —  a  serried  host  of  sons  and  daughters 

Whose  hearts  and  arms  are  nerved  by  loyalty. 
Her  glory  —  freedom  of  the  humblest  person 

Who  breathes  unfettered  from  the  taint  of  crime. 
Her  power — the  written  law,  blest  Freedom's  charter, 

That  guards  her  people's  rights  in  every  clime. 
Her  shrine  —  the  sanctuary  of  myriad  hearthstones, 

Whence  prayer  or  praise  ascends.     Her  faith  the  creed 
That  God  vouchsafes  to  every  soul  created, 

Such  free  oblation  as  it  choose  or  need. 
Her  wealth — the  wisdom  of  an  age  supernal. 

Her  hope  —  the  genius  of  the  good  and  true. 
Her  flag — a  symbol  of  the  stars  eternal, 

That  deck  the  vaulted  dome  of  heaven's  blue ! 
Her  trust  —  the  keeping  of  the  truth  immortal 

That  Right  and  Justice,  with  their  chastening  rod, 
Are  guardian  angels  of  the  waiting  pbrtal 

That  opens  upward  to  the  throne  of  God ! 
Our  mother !   be  thy  future  destiny 

To  wield  the  scepter  of  a  world  made  free ! 

J.  LEE  KNIGHT. 

(In  Frost's  Collection. ) 


JULY  FOURTH.  183 


JULY  FOUKTH, 

To-day  the  light  is  clearer, 

And  brings  the  shadow  nearer 
Of  a  planet  yet  to  whirl  the  circle  of  the  sun ; 

It  is  a  horoscope 

Casting  the  human  hope, 
Subtle  with  meaning  deep  of  what  the  world  has  won. 

The  grandest  march  of  soul 

Toward  the  noblest  goal, 
Was  when  our  glorious  fathers  marched  to  July  Fourth, 

And  set  in  this  day's  light 

The  truth  of  the  Infinite 
That  all  mankind  are  brothers,  and  of  equal  worth. 

The  grandest  march  of  heart 

Was  when  the  human  mart 
Was  burned  to  ashes  in  the  deathless  July  flame. 

And  a  blazing  sword  is  set 

Athwart  the  bayonet 

Upon  the  crimson  line  we  crossed  from  deathless 
shame. 

O  day  of  liberty ; 

Your  light  is  destiny  ! 
Your  force  and  thunder  pallid  monarchs  feel  and  hear ; 

You  beamed  at  Lexington, 

And  Appomattox  won, 
And  now  your  crystals  fall  upon  a  hemisphere, 


184:  ^  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

X 

Your  stars  of  hope  unfurled 

Shine  to  the  nether  world, 

And  take  the  breath  of  heaven  with  their  matchless 
gleam  ; 

And  all  that  is  to  be 

Upon  the  land  and  sea 
Glows  in  the  radiance  of  your  prophetic  beam. 

For  swift  the  shadow  flies 

Of  a  planet  in  the  skies ; 
The  sun  shall  kiss  from  Aries  and  Capricorn  ; 

Earth  shall  be  born  again. 

And  peace,  good-will  to  'men, 

Are  in  the  bugles  sweet  of  this  transcendent  morn. 

A.  A.  B.  CAVANESS. 


THE  INTERREGNUM. 

Us  fellers  hev  a  hundred  ways 

To  tell  the  seasons  by ; 
Not  countin'  in  the  kind  of  days 

Ner  culler  of  the  sky, 
Fer  them  is  purty  badly  mixt, 

An'  jes  es  like  es  not, 
'At  when  you  git  yerself  all  fixt 

Fer  it  to  be  right  hot, 
The  wind  '11  kinder  sidle  'round 

An'  give  a  sudden  whoo, 
An'  set  yer  teeth  to  shakin',  an' 

Yer  hands  to  gettin'  blue  ; 


THE  INTERREGNUM.  185 

But  if  they  's  eny  wether  'at 

You  can't  depend  on't  all, 
It 's  when  the  Kansas  summer  is 

A  turnin'  into  fall. 

They 's  no  use  much  to  write  it  down 

An'  stowe  it  'way  in  books : 
Next  year  perhaps  't  '11  change  aroun', 

In  all  exceptin'  looks 
Of  trees  an'  grass  an'  sich  like  things. 

They  's  jes  one  way  to  tell, 
An'  that 's  to  watch  what  each  year  brings 

An'  stay  here  quite  a  spell, 
An'  when  you  see  the  yeller's 

All  blowed  off  the  sunflower's  head, 
An'  the  orn'ry  little  fellers 

Fightin'  with  'em  now  they  're  dead ; . 
An'  when  you  see  the  blue  smoke  hang 

'Round  woods  an'  hills  an'  all, 
You  bet  the  Kansas  summer  is 

A  turnin'  into  fall. 

An'  when  yu're  loafin'  'round  the  crick 

Down  by  the  swimrnin'  hole, 
The  lonesomeness  jest  makes  you  sick, 

Fer  not  a  single  soul, 
Is  in  to  wet  the  ol'  spring-board, 

'At  seems  so  warped  an'  dry ; 
The  slidin'-down  place  too  is  rough 

By  cattle  passin'  by. 
So  when  you  git  to  town  agin, 

They  hain't  a  bit  of  harm 


186  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

In  stoppin'  where  the  sun  hez  bin, 
(The  sidewalks  is  so  warm,) 

To  rest  yer  tired  foot  'at  's  got 
A  sticker  in  the  ball :  - 

All  these  're  signs  'at  summer  is 
A  turnin'  into  fall. 

An'  when  we  have  to  wear  our  shoes, 

The  mornins  're  so  cool ; 
An'  when  we  get  a  good  excuse 

To  take  'em  off  at  school, 
At  recess  to  play  "three-ol'-cat," 

Er  "scrub,"  er  "pull-away," 
Er  eny  other  games  like  that 

Which  all  us  fellers  play  — 
It  feels  jest  like  the  spring  wuz  here 

To  be  barefoot  again ; 
But  though  our  feet  seem  cold  an'  queer 

When  school  is  taken  in, 
With  all  the  girls  a  snick  'rn'  ez 

We  stand  'long  side  the  wall, 
Us  boys  can  recomember  then, 

'At  summer's  turn'd  t'fall. 

WILL  A.  WHITE. 


TlfE  ATI/EN  A  OF  AMEKICAM  STATES.  187 


THE  ATHENA  OF  AMERICAN  STATES. 

Kansas  is  the  Athena  of  American  States.  Thirty-six 
years  ago  the  Slave  Oligarchy  ruled  this  country.  Fear- 
ing that  the  birth  of  new  States  in  the  West  would  rob  it 
of  supremacy,  the  Slave  Power  swallowed  the  Missouri 
Compromise,  which  had  dedicated  the  Northwest  to  Free- 
dom. The  industrious  North,  aroused  and  indignant,  struck 
quick  and  hard,  and  Kansas,  full-armed,  shouting  the  war- 
cry  of  Liberty,  and  nerved  with  invincible  courage,  sprang 
into  the  Union.  She  at  once  assumed  a  high  place  among 
the  States.  She  was  the  deadly  enemy  of  Slavery ;  she 
gave  voice  and  potency  to  the  demand  for  its  abolition  ; 
and  she  aided  in  burying  secession  in  its  unhonored  grave. 
The  war  over,  she  became  the  patron,  as  she  had  been 
during  its  continuance  the  exemplar,  of  heroism,  and  a 
hundred  thousand  soldiers  of  the  Union  found  homes 
within  the  shelter  of  her  embracing  arms.  The  agricul- 
turist and  the  mechanic  were  charmed  by  her  ample 
resources  and  inspired  by  her  eager  enterprise.  Educa- 
tion found  in  her  a  generous  patron,  and  to  literature,  art 
and  science  she  has  been  a  steadfast  friend.  Her  pure 
atmosphere  invigorated  all.  A  desert  disfigured  the  map 
of  the  continent,  and  she  covered  it  with  fields  of  golden 
wheat  and  tasseling  corn. 

She  has  extended  to  women  the  protection  of  generous 
laws  and  enlarged  opportunities  for  usefulness. 

In  war  she  was  valiant  and  indomitable,  and  in  peace 
she  has  been  intelligent,  energetic,  progressive  and  enter- 
prising. The  modern  Athena,  type  of  the  great  Greek 
goddess,  is  our  Kansas.  JOHN 


188  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


OPPOKTUNITY. 

Maker  of  human  destinies  am  I ! 

Fame,  love  and  fortune  on  my  footsteps  wait. 
Cities  and  fields  I  walk  ;  I  penetrate 

Deserts  and  seas  remote,  and  passing  by 
Hovel  and  mart  and  palace,  soon  or  late 
I  knock  unbidden  once  at  every  gate  ! 

If  sleeping,  wake ;  if  feasting,  rise  before 
I  turn  away.     It  is  the  hour  of  fate, 
And  they  who  follow  me  reach  every  state 

Mortals  desire,  and  conquer  every  foe 

Save  death ;  but  those  who  doubt  or  hesitate, 
Condemned  to  failure,  penury  and  woe, 

Seek  me  in  vain  and  uselessly  implore ; 
I  answer  not,  and  I  return  no  more. 

JOHN  J.  INGALLS. 


KANSAS:   1874-1884. 

1874  —  PER  ASPEBA. 
Cheerless  prairie  stretching  southward, 

Barren  prairies  stretching  north  ; 
Not  a  green  herb,  fresh  and  sturdy, 

From  the  hard  earth  springing  forth. 
Every  tree  bereft  of  foliage, 

Every  shrub  devoid  of  life, 
And  the  two  great  ills  seemed  blighting 

All  things  in  their  wasting  strife. 


KANSAS:  1874-1884.  189 

As  the  human  heart,  in  anguish, 

Sinks  beneath  the  stroke  of  fate, 
So  at  last,  despairing,  weary, 

Bowed  the  great  heart  of  our  State. 
She  had  seen  her  corn-blades  wither 

'Neath  the  hot  wind's  scorching  breath ; 
She  had  seen  the  wheat-heads  bending 

To  the  sting  of  cruel  death. 

She  had  seen  the  plague  descending 

Thro'  the  darkened,  stifling  air, 
And  she  bent  her  head  in  sorrow, 

Breathing  forth  a  fervent  prayer. 
And  the  fierce  winds,  growing  fiercer, 

Kissed  to  brown  her  forehead  fair, 
While  the  sun  shone  down  unpitying 

On  the  brownness  of  her  hair. 

Then  she  looked  into  the  future, 

Saw  the  winter,  ruthless,  bold, 
Bringing  her  disheartened  people 

Only  hunger,  want  and  cold. 
Looking,  saw  her  barefoot  children 

Walk  where  snow-sprites  shrink  to  tread  ; 
Listening,  heard  their  child-lips  utter 

Childish  prayers  for  daily  bread. 

Low  she  bowed  her  head,  still  thinking 

O'er  her  people's  woes  and  weal, 
And  the  ones  anear  her  only 

Heard  the  words  of  her  appeal. 


190          ^  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Send  that  faint  cry  onward,  outward, 

Swift  as  wire  wings  can  bear, 
"Sisters,  help  me  or  I  perish  — 
Heaven  pity  my  despair !  " 

1884  —  AD  ASTRA. 
Verdant  wheat-fields  stretching  southward, 

Fruitful  orchards  east  and  west ; 
Not  a  spot  in  all  the  prairie 

That  the  spring-time  has  not  blessed. 
Every  field  a  smiling  promise, 

Every  home  an  Eden  fair, 
And  the  angels,  Peace  and  Plenty, 

Strewing  blessings  everywhere. 

As  the  heart  of  nature  quivers 

At  the  touch  of  spring-time  fair, 
So  along  the  State's  wide  being 

Thrilled  the  answer  to  her  prayer. 
She  has  seen  her  dauntless  people 

Ten  times  turn  and  sow  the  soil ; 
She  has  seen  the  same  earth  answer 

Ten  times  to  their  faithful  toil. 

She  has  felt  the  ripe  fruit  falling 

In  her  lap  from  bended  limbs ; 
She  has  heard  her  happy  children 

Shouting  their  thanksgiving  hymns. 
She  has  seen  ten  golden  harvests ; 

Now,  with  grateful  joy  complete, 
She  has  poured  the  tenth,  a  guerdon, 

At  her  benefactor's  feet. 


THE  STORY  OF  '1HE  FLAG.  191 

Thou  canst  not  forget,  O  Kansas, 

All  thine  own  despair  and  woe; 
Who  hath  long  and  keenly  suffered 

Can  the  tenderest  pity  show. 
Not  in  vain  the  needy  calleth  — 

Charity  her  own  repays, 
And  thy  bread,  cast  on  the  waters, 

Will  return  ere  many  days. 

Peace,  thine  angel,  pointeth  upward, 

Where  the  gray  clouds  break  away ; 
And  athwart  the  azure  heavens 

Shineth  forth  Hope's  placid  ray. 
Look  to  Heaven  and  to  the  future  — 

Grieve  no  longer  o'er  the  past ; 
Through  thy  trials,  God  bless  thee,  Kansas  — 

See,  the  stars  appear  at  last. 

HATTIE  HORNER. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  FLAG. 

There  is  a  subtle  passion  within  each  human  heart 

That  sets  the  pulse  to  throbbing,  and  makes  each  fiber  start ; 

That  stirs  the  soul  to  frenzy  in  battle's  stern  array, 

Or  cheers  the  weary  traveler  in  countries  far  away ; 

That  prompts  each  human  being  with  heart  and  voice  to  cry : 

"All  hail  thee  !  glorious  banner,  mount  upward  to  the  sky," 

Wherever  fate  may  find  him,  whenever  he  beholds 

His  country's  banner  hoisted,  and  the  breeze  caress  its  folds. 


192  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

But  why  the  Turkish  people,  crushed  'neath  the  Sultan's 

heel, 

Or  why  the  people  of  the  Czar,  who  to  that  despot  kneel, 
Should  feel  the  same  emotion  as  the  people  of  a  land 
Whose  banner  stands  for  liberty,  we  do  not  understand. 
And  yet  the  Turk  will  rally  'round  the  crescent  and  the  star, 
The  Russian  people  gather  'neath  the  eagles  of  the  Czar ; 
And  each  will  fight  as  bravely,  and  each  as  loudly  cry : 
"  All  hail  our  glorious  banner  !   mount  upward  to  the  sky," 
As  if  their  waving  banners  were  bulwarks  of  the  free, 
Upheld  by  Freedom's  goddess  that  all  the  world  might  see. 

If  they,  with  such  devotion,  'round  such  a  flag  will  stand, 
O  children  of  Columbia,  who  occupy  a  land 
Where  in  each  freeman's  ballot,  and  in  each  starry  fold 
Of  that  banner  floating  o'er  us,  is  a  story  that  is  told 
To  the  men  of  every  nation ;  to  the  men  of  every  clime ; 
And  is  carved  in  burnished  letters  on  the  Pantheon  of  Time, 
Of  how  our  noble  sires  once  in  Freedom's  holy  name, 
Did  trample  on  the  despot's  rule  and  rend  the  tyrant's 
chain. 

And  then  to  make  a  banner  that  would  represent  their  deeds; 
That  would  stand  for  perfect  freedom  to  all  people,  and  all 

creeds, 

They  took  their  bloody  foot-prints,  left  on  the  driven  snow, 
And  made  those  stripes  of  red  and  white  that  set  our  hearts 

aglow ; 
Then,  reaching  upwards  took   the  stars,  their  freedom  to 

imply, 
And  placed  them  on  a  back-ground  with  the  azure  of  the 

sky. 


THE  STORY  OF  TttE  FLAG.  193 

Shall  we,  whose  banner  represents  the  brotherhood  of  man, 
Be  any  less  heroic  than  the  tyrant's  servile  clan; 
Whose  highest  sense  of  duty,  to  country  or  to  flag, 
Is  bowing  down  in  rev'rence,  and  evermore  to  drag 
The  chains  of  despotism  which  bind  their  spirits  down ; 
To  regulate  their  actions  by  the  tyrant's  smile  or  frown  ? 

No,  hoist  that  flag  forever  o'er  the  rampart  of  your  hearts. 
Humanity  will  bless  it  for  the  lesson  it  imparts. 
It  makes  the  despot  tremble  as  it  flutters  in  the  gale ; 
He  fears  that  gentle  flutter  far  above  his  people's  wail. 
And  as  the  weary  sailor,  while  many  leagues  from  shore, 
Is  cheered  by  fragrant  breezes  that  have  gently  wafted  o'er 
Some  far-off  fertile  island,  with  its  groves  of  spice  and  palm, 
And  in  passing  thus  were  laden  with  the  perfume  of  its 

balm  ; 

So  the  down-trodden  people,  of  every  land  and  clime, 
With  gladdened  hearts  are  turning  to  this  flag  of  source 

divine. 

They  breathe  in  every  zephyr  that  has  kissed  its  starry  fold 
The  spirit  of  our  sires  who  that  banner  did  uphold. 

O  children  of  Columbia !  each  acting  well  his  part, 
Will  wear  that  banner  graven  on  the  tablet  of  his  heart : 
Will  speed  the  message  onward,  o'er  all  the  land  and  sea, 
"The  stars  and  stripes  are  waving  for  all  humanity"; 
Will  shout,  "  Wave  on,  Old  Glory  !     Thy  stars  and  stripes 

shall  float 

O'er  peaceful  school-bell  music,  or  warlike  bugle's  note  " ; 
Will  feel  his  pulses  throbbing  to  the  music  of  the  drum, 
No  more,  than  when  in  times  of  peace,  his  duty  whispers, 

"Come."  ,-,  ^ 

EDWARD  T.  BARBER. 


194         A   COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


EARLY  REMINISCENCES. 

Two  weeks  before  the  first  party  of  the  New  England 
Emigrant  Aid  Company  arrived  in  Kansas,  a  little  band  of 
Ohio  emigrants  toiled  up  the  hill  and  rested  on  the  very 
spot  where  now  stands  that  noble  building,  the  Kansas 
State  University.  The  two -hours  rest  on  that  hill  will 
never  be  forgotten.  It  was  the  last  Sabbath  in  July, 
1854.  How  vast  the  country  seemed  to  that  lonely  little 
party !  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  the  scene  was  un- 
broken by  the  work  of  human  hands.  The  quiet,  good- 
natured  oxen,  standing  patiently  in  the  shadow  of  the 
high  covered  wagon,  seemed  like  part  of  the  family. 

The  party  passed  on,  and  pitched  their  tent  four  miles 
further  west,  on  the  California  road. 

Thus  commenced  that  queer,  half-civilized  way  of  living, 
a  home  without  a  house.  I  remember  what  an  effort 
mother  made  to  keep  in  sight  the  old  landmarks,  and  dear 
old  home  ways.  The  family  altar  was  established,  the 
blessing  asked  at  the~  table,  an  extra  plate  laid  for  the 
stranger.  Often  was  our  camp-fire  a  beacon -light  to  the 
benighted  traveler. 

Our  tent  was  pitched  near  a  spring.  Father  made  a 
comfortable  shade  of  green  boughs  over  the  door  of  our 
tent.  Other  tents  were  soon  set  up  near  us,  until  we  had 
quite  a  cheery  little  settlement. 

The  weather  was  iiot  and  dry  ;  the  spring  failed,  and  we 
suffered  for  good  water. 

One  Saturday  noon  a  violent  storm  came  up ;  fortu- 
nately for  us,  father  was  at  home.  The  other  men  were 
away  looking  for  claims,  or  hunting.  The  storm  came  on 


EARLY  REMINISCENCES.  195 

in  such  awful  grandeur,  such  magnificent  fury,  as  we  had 
never  witnessed  before.  The  thunder  rolled  and  crashed 
over  us.  The  rain  poured  down  in  torrents.  The  wind  blew 
as  if  it  would  sweep  the  prairie  clean.  It  required  the 
united  efforts  of  the  family  to  hold  the  tent  in  place. 

After  the  violence  of  the  storm  had  passed  it  remained 
cloudy  and  threatening,  and  turned  cold.  Our  neighbors 
returned  to  their  fallen  homes.  The  night  came  on  early 
and  dark.  Everything  was  soaking -wet  and  cold  —  no 
fire,  no  supper  —  not  even  a  place  to  sit  down.  Father 
was  equal  to  the  emergency.  How  he  did  it  I  never 
knew,  but  he  soon  had  a  blazing  fire  under  the  cover  of 
boughs  that  had  nobly  withstood  the  storm.  As  the 
bright,  cheerful  fire  lighted  up  the  prairie,  father  called  out 
to  our  neighbors  to  come.  They  waited  for  no  second  in- 
vitation, for  they  were  wet,  cold,  and  hungry. 

Now  was  mother's  opportunity  to  show  that  she  too 
was  equal  to  the  emergency.  With  true  housewifely  care 
she  protected  her  bread,  which  was  ready  to  bake  when 
the  storm  came  upon  us.  By  the  use  of  soda  she  soon 
had  good  light  biscuit,  which  Mrs.  S.  N.  Wood  baked  in  a 
Dutch  oven,  while  mother  made  a  boilerful  of  coffee,  and 
everyone  was  served  with  hot  coffee  and  bread  —  nothing 
else,  but  it  was  a  feast. 

The  dark  night ;  the  threatening  clouds  overhead ;  the 
blazing  wood-fire  casting  a  weird  light  far  out  over  the  tall 
prairie  grass,  still  dripping  with  the  rain ;  around  and 
near  the  fire,  seated  on  logs  and  benches,  a  little  company 
of  men  fresh  from  comfortable  New  England  homes,  un- 
used to  anything  like  "  roughing  it." 

The  night  was  spent  by  the  fire. 

The  next  morning  the  sun  rose  in  all  his  regal  splendor, 


196          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

as  if  to  repair  the  damage  done  by  the  storm.  Tents  were 
set  up,  beds,  blankets  and  clothing  were  spread  out  to  dry. 
Soon  all  things  were  in  comfortable  order  again. 

Soon  the  cabin  was  built  and  we  moved  into  it.  It  was 
without  floor,  doors,  or  windows.  As  it  was  called  the 
best  house  on  the  road,  we  could  not  complain.  By  the 
10th  of  August  a  flourishing  city  of  tents  had  sprung  up 
as  if  by  magic,  and  was  called  New  Boston,  Yankee-town, 
and  Thayer.  It  was  finally  named  Lawrence,  in  honor  of 
Amos  A.  Lawrence,  of  Boston. 

MRS.  SARAH  LYONS  PINKSTON. 


KANSAS. 
TUNE,  "  Gospel  Bells." 

What  magic  wand  or  wizard 

Touched  the  desert,  barren,  wide, 
Changed  it  to  a  land  of  plenty, 

Walled  with  corn  —  the  good  State's  pride? 
What  wonder  is  this  thing ! 

Not  a  land  of  barren  years  — 
Kansas  —  land  of  orchards,  harvests, 

Menaced  not  by  famine-fears. 

CHORUS : 
Thrice  redeemed,  Freedom's  land, 

Prosper  all  thy  causes  great ! 
Hail  thee,  State  !    Bravely  stand  ! 

Long  live  our  noble  State ! 


KANSAS.  197 

Declared  it  was  of  olden 

That  the  weak  should  lead  the  strong. 
So  did  Kansas,  Anti-Slavery, 

Lead  against  great  Slavery's  wrong. 
The  angel  saw,  and  passed 

Unavenged  the  nation's  door; 
There  was  blood  upon  the  lintel  — 

Kansas  martyr-blood  it  bore. 
Chorus. 

The  State  that  once  in  conflict 

Gained  a  broken  slave-chain  link, 
Once  more  leads  the  nation's  forces 

'Gainst  the. slavery  of  drink. 
Arise,  O  State,  and  make 

This,  thy  latest  triumph,  sure  — 
Thou  that  ever  hast  done  battle 

For  the  good,  the  true,  the  pure ! 
Chorus. 

We  sing  thy  praises,  Kansas, 

Upon  this  thy  natal  day, 
Sing  the  song  of  thy  glad  triumph 

Over  long  and  toilsome  way. 
Great  Kansas  commonwealth, 

Thrown  upon  the  grassy  plain, 
Rich  with  richest  good  of  statehood, 

May  thy  gleaned  stars  never  wane. 
Chorus. 

MARY  RAY  MC!NTIEE. 


198          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS, 


KANSAS  — ITS  PAST,  PKESENT,  AND   FUTURE. 

Recorded — read  on  history's  brightest  page  — 

Written  in  blood,  a  story  ne'er  forgot, 

Of  days  agone ;  when  pioneers  endured 

Privations,  hardships,  on  this  sacred  spot. 

We  read  of  all  the  unforgotten  past, 

That  o'er  the  present  its  reflections  cast, 

And  hearts  then  fired  with  patriotic  zeal, 

Yet  live,  nor  time  shall  their  brave  deeds  conceal. 

The  present,  can  we  need  to  tell  in  rhyme 
Of  this,  our  glorious  age,  the  present  time? 
To-day  stands  forth,  unparalleled  and  grand, 
And  Kansas  leads  the  van,  in  our  vast  land. 
The  heroes  of  the  past  we  still  revere ; 
Their  spirits,  "marching  on,"  are  reverenced  here; 
And  as  the  present,  teeming  with  its  light, 
Yields  us  its  bounties,  all  seems  glad  and  bright. 

And  in  the  future,  glorious,  grand,  sublime, 
None  may  foretell  the  change  of  coming  time, 
But  this  we  know :    The  hand  that  in  the  past 
Crowned  us  with  peace  and  blessings  rich  and  vast, 
Shall  guide,  uphold,  our  mighty  State  alway ; 
And  Kansas  hold  her  rank  in  fame  to-day. 
First  in  our  hearts,  our  State  shall  always  be, 
Home  of  the  brave,  the  birthplace  of  the  free. 

LAUBA  E.  NEWELL. 


THE  NATAL  HOUR.  199 


THE  NATAL  HOUR. 

Decorate  the  Thirtieth  of  May  ! 
Shall  we  now  the  great  act  deplore 
Which  gave  us  Kansas  ?     Nevermore. 
She  was  called  fresh  from  the  dark  shore 

Of  time  ;  she  came  ;  hail,  mighty  day  ! 

All  hail !     Kansas  this  day  was  born  ; 

Not  full  fledged  and  armed,  like  fair 

Minerva  from  the  matted  hair 

Of  Jove,  to  wing  her  flight  in  air, 
And  chant  Ad  astro,  to  the  morn. 

But  in  the  dark  and  sullen  storm 
Of  civil  strife ;  like  one  without 
A  friend  or  home ;  and  tossed  about 
Forlorn,  and  mocked  by  the  rude  shout 

Of  ruffian  bands  in  demon's  form. 

Sweet  Kansas  of  the  fragrant  plain  ! 
Thy  natal  hour  shall  mark  a  day 
Wreathed  in  flowery  love ;  whose  bright  ray 
Shall  gild  the  world,  and  whose  sweet  lay 

Shall  charm  like  some  ./Eolian  strain. 

— From  Joel  Moody"1  s  "Song  of  Kansas" 


200          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


THE  HOME. 

No  spot  so  dear  on  earth  as  home. 

We  build  the  home ;  this  builds  the  State. 
This,  loyal,  makes  the  nation  great  — 
And  all  from  love.     No  hand  of  fate 

Builds  or  pulls  down  a  nation's  dome. 

No  happy  footsteps  from  the  home 

E'er  trod  the  path  which  treason  takes. 
No  hand  from  happy  fireside  shakes 
The  murderer's  blade,  nor  it  forsakes 

To  Caesar  kill,  or  rule  great  Rome. 

Kansas,  in  this  thy  glories  rise  — 

In  this  thy  strength.     Thy  people  here 
Their  plain  and  humble  structures  rear  — 
They  plow  and  plant  at  home,  nor  fear 

That  there  an  execution  lies. 

'Tis  sweet  to  know  that  here  the  State 
Protects  the  home  —  that  she  has  thrown 
Around  the  hearth  and  wife  her  own 
Strong  arm  —  that  this  no  kingly  crown 

Could  do,  nor  more  on  grandeur  wait. 

Nor  shall  the  curse  of  drink,  strong  drink, 
Whose  pain  is  as  the  adder's  sting, 
Sure,  quick,  and  deadly,  ever  bring 
To  Kansas  home  its  guilt,  and  fling 

The  household  gods  on  ruin's  brink. 


"AD  ASTRA  PER  ASPEA'A."  201 

This  has  made  Kansas  great  —  to  this 

She  owes  her  growth,  her  power  and  wealth ; 
Her  brawny  arm  and  sturdy  health ; 
She  gains  by  prowess,  not  by  stealth, 

And  home  brings  all  her  victories. 

— From  Joel  Moody's  "Song  of  Kansas  " 


"AD  ASTRA  PER  ASPERA." 

"Ad  Astra  per  Aspera" — 
Through  difficulties  to  the  stars, 
Our  State  has  grandly  weathered  storms ; 
No  cloud  its  peaceful  sky  now  mars, 
No  conflicts  rage,  no  grievous  wars  : 
Through  difficulties  to  the  stars. 

t 

No  fugitive  upon  our  soil, 
As  in  the  past  for  refuge  came, 
But  all  men  free ;   God's  noblemen. 
For  black  and  white  are  His  the  same, 
A  brotherhood  —  His  sacred  tie, 
Our  God  hath  given  victory. 

As  long  as  suns  shall  rise  and  set, 
As  long  as  stars  shall  brightly  shine, 
Our  Kansas  shall  be  known  afar. 
Fairest  of  States,  what  fame  is  thine, 
What  records  histories  unfold, 
Yet  not  the  half  has  e'er  been  told. 


202          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Ad  Astra  per  Aspera  — 

All  honor  to  thy  heroes  brave ; 

In  loyal  hearts  they  still  shall  live, 

Who  burst  the  fetters  of  the  slave. 

On  history's  page  their  names  shall  glow, 

While  suns  shall  gleam  and  waters  flow. 

Then  for  God's  blessing,  and  his  smile 
For  all  His  mercies  kindly  sent, 
To  heaven  let  our  prayers  ascend, 
Until  earth's  days  have  all  been  spent, 
To  God,  the  glory  and  the  praise, 
The  author  of  these  golden  days. 

LAURA  E.  NEWELL. 


KANSAS. 

My  home  is  in  Kansas,  that  fearless  young  State, 
'Mid  wide  prairie  lands  of  the  West : 

We  have  tried  many  kinds  of  temperance  laws, 
And  think  Prohibition  the  best. 

We  like  Prohibition  because  it  can  say 

To  the  man  who  is  selling  strong  .drink : 
•You  are  breaking  the  law,  and  your  dram-shop  must 

close" — 
A  very  good  doctrine,  we  think. 

If  instead  of  this  law,  we  licensed  saloons 
With  a  license  low,  middle,  or  high, 

We  could  only  look  on  while  they  kept  open  doors, 
And  say  as  we  sadly  pass  by : 


THE  OLD  SOLDIER.  203 

"Sell  on,  and  grow  rich  while  your  patrons  grow  poor, 

Ruin  manhood  and  boyhood  so  fair ; 
Our  license  permits  you  to  sell,  while  we  take 
Of  your  money  and  crime  our  full  share." 

No !  no  !  here  in  Kansas  we  '11  never  say  that, 
But  prove  with  each  on-coming  year, 

That  the  law  which  prohibits  is  best,  since  we  find 
'Tis  the  only  one  liquor-men  fear. 

[Anonymous.] 


THE  OLD  SOLDIER. 

[NOTE.  — From  Georgo  R.  Peck's  address  delivered  to  the  old  soldiers 
at  the  Home  at  Leavenworth,  Kansas.] 

"The  old  soldier  grows  tired  as  the  years  increase,  and 
he  hears  only  in  dreams  the  roll  of  drums  and  the  noise 
of  battle.  He  loves  his  ease  in  the  quiet  afternoon,  and 
feels,  as  he  did  not  once,  how  sweet  are  the  ministrations 
of  sleep.  Death  need  not  come  to  seek  him,  for,  half-way 
up  the  slope  the  veteran  is  marching,  if  not  so  gaily  as  in 
old  days,'  still  resolutely  and  bravely  as  becomes  one  who 
is  not  afraid  to  meet  whatever  foe  may  come.  And  lo  ! 
Death  carries  neither  lance  nor  spear;  but  only  the  wel- 
come emblem  of  white  which  is  the  sign  of  everlasting 
truce.  It  must  be  sweet  to  know  that  the  battle  is  over 
forever ;  it  must  be  pleasant  to  sleep  -in  the  mercy  of  Him 
who  hath  made  it  the  'balm  of  hurt  minds.'  Let  us  be 
patient.  To  them  the  hour  will  come,  and  the  repose  that 
awaits  the  resurrection  and  the  life." 


204      "  A   COLLEC'llON  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


THE  SUNFLOWER  OF  KANSAS. 

A  flower  for  the  nation  !     What  shall  the  blossom  be? 
A  blossom  rare,  to  shine  in  air,  on  land  and  on  the  sea, 
To  lead  the  van  of  armies  like  the  sign  the  Romans  bore, 
And  o'er  the  brave  on  the  heaving  wave,  speed  alway  to 
the  fore. 

A  flower  for  the  nation  !     What  shall  the  blossom  be  ? 
The  rose,  the  laurel,  the  princely  fleur  de  lis  ? 
The  May-flower  of  the  pilgrims,  or  the  violet  royal  blue, 
The  golden  rod,  the  daisy,  good,  and  fair,  and  true  ? 

Aye,  a  flower  for  the  nation  !     That  follows  still  the  light ; 
With  heart  of  gold  that  ne'er  grows  old,  and  fate  that 's 

ever  bright ; 

That  to  the  wildest  breezes  tosses  loftily  its  crest, 
Choose  what  ye  will,  but  give  to  us  the  sunflower  of  the 

West. 

[Anonymous.] 


THE  REPORTER  AND  THE  TRAVELING  MAN. 

( Adapted  from  Kansas  Chief. ) 

DRAMATIS  PERSONS:  A  drummer  with  his  grip ;  a  reporter  with  Ms 

note-book. 

Reporter :   "How  's  wheat  in  southern  Kansas?  " 
Drummer:   "Wheat!     You  never  saw  the  like  !     The 
farmers  down  in  southern  Kansas  had  to  rent  the  public 
roads  to  get  room  to  stack  their  wheat.     Wasn't  room 
enough  in  the  fields  to  hold  the  stacks.     I  saw  one  — 
R.  "How  is  the  fruit  crop?  " 


THE  REPORTER  AND  THE  TRAVELING  MAN.       2Q5 

D.  "Fruit!  You  never  saw  the  like!  Apples  as  big 
as  cannon-balls,  growing  in  clusters  as  big  as  hay-stacks. 
I  saw  one  apple  that — " 

R.  "Do  n't  the  trees  break  down  ?  " 

D.  "Trees!  You  never  saw  the  like!  The  farmers 
planted  sorghum  in  the  orchards,  and  the  stalks  grew  up 
like  telegraph  poles  and  supported  the  limbs.  I  saw  one 
stalk  of  sorghum  that  was  two  feet — " 

R.  "  How  is  the  broom-corn  crop  ?  " 

D.  "  Broom-corn  !  You  never  saw  the  like  !  There 
has  n't  been  a  cloudy  day  in  southern  Kansas  for  a  month. 
Can't  cloud  up.  The  broom-corn  grew  so  high  that  it  kept 
the  clouds  swept  off  the  face  of  the  sky  as  clean  as  a 
floor.  They  will  have  to  cut  the  corn  down  if  it  gets  too 
dry.  Some  of  the  broom-corn  stalks  are  so  high  that  — 

R.  "How  is  the  corn  crop?  " 

D.  "Corn!  You  never  saw  the  like!  Down  in  the 
Neosho  and  Fall  river  and  Arkansas  bottoms  the  corn  is  as 
high  as  a  house.  They  use  step-ladders  to  gather  the  roast- 
ing-ears  !  " 

R.  "Aren't  step-ladders  pretty  expensive?" 

D.  "Expensive!  Well,  I  should  say  so;  but  that  isn't 
the  worst  of  it.  The  trouble  is,  the  children  climb  up  into 
the  corn-stalks  to  hunt  eagles'  nests,  and  sometimes  fall  out 
and  kill  themselves.  Four  funerals  in  one  county  last  week 
from  that  cause.  I  attended  all  of  them.  That  is  why  I 
am  so  sad.  And  mind  you,  the  corn  is  not  more  than 
half  grown.  A  man  at  Arkansas  City  has  invented  a  ma- 
chine which  he  calls  the  Solar  Corn  Harvester  and  Child 
Protector.  It  is  inflated  with  gas  like  a  balloon,  and  floats 
over  the  corn-tops,  and  the  occupants  reach  down  and  cut 


206  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

off  the  ears  with  a  cavalry  saber.  Every  Kansas  farmer 
has  a  cavalry  saber,  and  —  " 

R.  "Do  they  make  much  cider  in  Kansas?" 

D.  "  Cider  !  You  never  saw  the  like  !  Oceans  of  it. 
Most  of  the  Cowley  county  farmers  have  filled  their  cis- 
terns with  cider.  A  proposition  was  made  a  few  days  ago 
to  the  Water  Works  Company  of  Arkansas  City  to  supply 
the  town  with  cider  through  the  mains,  but  the  company 
were  compelled  to  decline  because  they  were  afraid  the 
cider  would  rust  the  pumps.  They  were  sorry,  but  they 
said  they  would  have  to  continue  to  furnish  water  although 
it  cost  more.  I  saw  one  farmer  who  —  " 

R.  "  How  is  the  potato  crop  ?  " 

D.  "  Potatoes  !  You  never  saw  the  like  !  I  know  men 
in  the  Arkansas  valley  who  were  too  poor  last  year  at  this 
time  to  flag  a  bread  wagon,  and  now  they  have  pie  three 
times  a  day.  One  fellow  that  —  " 

(Exit  reporter  during  the  delivery  of  this  sentence,  as  if 
having  urgent  business  elsewhere.) 


THE  HOMES  OF  KANSAS. 

The  cabin  homes  of  Kansas  ! 

How  modestly  they  stood, 
Along  the  sunny  hillsides, 

Or  nestled  in  the  wood. 
They  sheltered  men  and  women, 

Brave-hearted  pioneers ; 
Each  one  became  a  landmark 

Of  Freedom's  trial  years. 


/• 

THE  HOMES  OF  KANSAS. 

The  sod-built  homes  of  Kansas  ! 

Though  built  of  Mother  Earth, 
Within  their  walls  so  humble 

Are  souls  of  sterling  worth, 
Though  poverty  and  struggle 

May  be  the  builder's  lot. 
The  sod-house  is  a  castle 

Where  failure  enters  not. 

The  dugout  homes  of  Kansas  ! 

The  lowliest  of  all, 
They  hold  the  homestead  title 

As  firm  as  marble  hall. 
Those  dwellers  in  the  cavern, 

Beneath  the  storms  and  snows, 
Shall  make  the  desert  places 

To  blossom  as  the  rose. 

The  splendid  homes  of  Kansas  ! 

How  proudly  now  they  stand 
Amid  the  fields  and  orchards, 

All  o'er  the  smiling  land. 
They  rose  up  where  the  cabins 

Once  marked  the  virgin  soil, 
And  are  the  fitting  emblems 

Of  patient  years  of  toil. 

God  bless  the  homes  of  Kansas! 

From  poorest  to  the  best ; 
The  cabin  of  the  border, 

The  sod-house  of  the  west ; 


208          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KA\SAS  AUTHORS. 

The  dugout,  low  and  lonely, 
The  mansion,  grand  and  great; 

The  hands  that  laid  their  hearthstones 
Have  built  a  mighty  State. 

SOL.  MILLER. 


SOL.  MILLER  AS  A  POET. 

Kansas  people  are  emotional.  They  feel  all  the  pleasure 
and  all  the  pain  —  in  poetic  pains  —  for  nearly  every  Kan- 
sau  writes  poetry.  The  Kansas  writers  are  not  all  imita- 
tors, either.  Dialect  poetry  was  written  in  Kansas  before 
J.  Whitcomb  Riley  quit  sign-painting. 

Sol.  Miller,  editor  of  the  Troy  Chief,  was  the  first  poet 
to  reach  the  State  of  Kansas.  A  great  many  of  his  early 
poems  were  political  hits,  and  lost  force  after  a  campaign. 
In  1860  he  wrote  his  "Invocation  to  the  Ground  Hog." 
He  always  observes  the  day.  His  humor  is  broad,  his 
rhyme  of  the  homely  kind.  He  admires  Hood  enough  to 
write  somewhat  like  him.  He  loves  to  write  poetry,  but 
hides  his  work.  If  he  prints  a  poem  he  does  not  claim  it. 
For  this  reason  few  people  have  found  him  out.  He  would 
not  put  his  things  in  book  form  if  the  cost  were  paid  by 
friends.  He  has  some  vanity  —  all  men  have,  if  women 
haven't  —  but  his  is  wrapped  up  somewhere.  As  he  sel- 
dom leaves  home  it  may  be  in  his  dingy  office,  or  more 
probably  in  his  excellent  newspaper.  He  has  a  most 
remarkable  memory.  He  reads  his  exchanges  so  closely 
that  he  knows  all  about  people  he  has  never  seen.  He  is 
strong,  brave,  honest.  He  hurts  people  often  —  but  with 
the  stern,  old-fashioned  weapon  of  truth. 

Of  his  poems  he  likes  "Pawpaws  Ripe"  best. 


THE    TEACHER.  209 

* 

One  poem  is  much  liked  by  the  newspapers,  and  as  the 
birthday  of  the  State  nears,  year  after  year,  they  print  it. 
He  calls  it  the  "Homes  of  Kansas,"  and  first  speaks  of  the 
modest  cabin,  the  sod-built  homes,  the  dugout  homes,  the 
lowliest  of  them  all ;  then  he  refers  to  the  splendid  homes 
of  Kansas. 

As  the  ear  is  pitched,  the  mind  is  pleased.  Sol.  Miller 
is  the  poet  of  plain  people.  He  has  not  made  the  babbling 
brook  tumble  down  in  print ;  he  has  not  tamed  the  wild, 
untrained  note  of  the  bird.  The  old  willows  that  so  idly 
stand  on  mossy  banks  and  flirt  with  the  river  that  flows  on 
forever,  have  not  been  disturbed  by  him ;  but  he  has  re- 
called sweetly  pure  memories,  and  given  us  again  and 
again  the  perfume  of  flowers  that  faded  long  ago ;  he  has 
given  us  sentiment  that  has  softened  the  hard  lines  of  real 
life  and  made  brighter  the  plain  working-day. 

EWING  HERBERT. 


THE  TEACHER 

"How  shall  we  add  to  earthly  beauty?  " 

An  angel  asked  one  day. 
"By  teaching  man  it  is  his  duty 

To  smooth  his  neighbor's  way. 

"To  teach  mankind  the  art  of  living 

Is  doing  heaven's  will; 
It  would  be  well  if  more  were  giving 
To  that  their  time  and  skill. 


210          A    COLLECTION  J-ROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

* 

"'Tis  true,  if  judged  by  earthly  measure, 

They  toil  for  little  pay, 
And  very  few  their  hours  of  leisure, 
If  faithful  on  the  way. 

"When  conscious  that  they  know  their  mission, 

And  do  their  labor  right, 
It  gives  to  life  a  rich  fruition 

And  makes  the  dark  seem  light." 

The  angel  smiled,  and  said  with  laughter: 

"I'm  going  with  a  crown." 
A  host  of  angels  started  after, 
And  quickly  followed  down. 

They  placed  the  crown,  with  richest  blessing, 

Upon  the  teacher's  brow  ; 
If  she  is  onward,  upward  pressing, 

She  wears  it,  even  now. 

B.   W.  ALLSWOKTH. 


ON  THE  FARM. 

How  sweet  to  lean  on  Nature's  arm, 

And  jog  through  life  upon  the  farm ; 

Merchants  and  brokers  spread  a  dash 

A  little  while,  then  go  to  smash ; 

But  we  can  keep  from  day  to  day, 

The  even  tenor  of  our  way. 

(There  go  those  horses  !     Quick,  John  !  catch 

'em  — 
They  '11  break  their  necks  !     You  did  n't  hitch 

'em.) 


ON  THE  FARM.  211 

How  sweet  and  shrill  the  plow-boy's  song, 

As  merrily  he  jogs  along; 

The  playful  breeze  about  him  whirls, 

And  tosses  wide  his  yellow  curls. 

His  hands  are  brown,  his  cheeks  are  red  — 

An  ever-blooming  flower-bed. 

Unspoiled  by  crowds,  un vexed  by  care  — 

(Goodness  !   do  hear  the  urchin  swear.) 

How  soft  the  summer  showers  fall, 
On  field  and  garden,  cheering  all ; 
How  bright  in  woods  the  diamond  sheen, 
Of  rain-drops  strung  on  threads  of  green  — 
Each  oak  a  king  with  jewel  crown. 
(The  wind  has  blown  the  hay-stack  down  ! 
I  knew  'twould  hail,  it  got  so  warm. 
That  fence  is  flat.     My  !   what  a  storm  !  ) 

How  soft  the  hazy  summer  night ! 
On  dewy  grass  the  moon's  pale  light 
Rests  dreamily.     It  falls  in  town, 
On  smoky  roofs  and  pavements  brown. 
How  tenderly  when  night  is  gone, 
Breaks  o'er  the  fields  the  summer  dawn ! 
How  sweet  and  pure  the  scented  morn. 
( Get  up  !     Old  Molly  's  in  the  corn  ! ) 

Far  from  the  city's  dust  and  broil, 
We  women  sing  at  household  toil, 
Nor  scorn  to  work  with  hardened  hands; 
We  laugh  at  fashion's  bars  and  bands, 


212  ^  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

And  on  our  cheeks  wear  nature's  rose. 
(That  calf  is  nibbling  at  ray  clothes  ! 
Off  she  goes  at  double  shuffle, 
Chewing  down  my  finest  ruffle  ! ) 

We  workers  in  our  loom  of  life, 
Far  from  the  city's  din  and  strife, 
Weave  many  a  soft,  poetic  rose, 
With  patient  hand  through  warp  of  prose ; 
We  love  our  labor  more  and  more. 
(John  !   here  !   the  pigs  are  at  the  door ! 
The~y  've  burst  the  sty  and  scaled  the  wall  — 
There  goes  my  kettle,  soap  and  all ! ) 

Mus.  ALLERTON. 


ONLY  A  NEGRO. 

(NOTE. — Harry  and  Millie  Pembleton,  husband  and  wife,  were  educated  octoroons, 
he  being  a  slave,  while  she  was  a  free  girl.  When  the  Black  Law  of  Arkansas  was 
enacted,  in  1857,  providing  for  the  expulsion  of  all  free  negroes  from  the  State  unless 
they  returned  into  slavery,  Millie  and  her  little  daughter,  Marcia,  fled  to  Kansas. 
Through  the  trials  that  she  underwent,  Millie  became  almost  insane,  and  would  sit 
for  hours  brooding  over  the  hope  that  was  nearest  her  heart,  often  seeing  vain  visions 
of  Harry  by  her  side.  Harry  finally  gained  his  freedom  and  came  to  her  near  the 
beginning  of  the  Civil  War. ) 

One  day,  Millie  sat  as  usual  talking  with  Marcia.  Her 
vision  had  appeared,  and  Marcia's  question  had  dispelled  it. 

"What  makes  you  so  strange,  Mother?  "  the  little  girl 
asked,  looking  anxiously  into  the  woman's  face. 

"I  don't  know,  dear  one,  I  don't  know.  I  cannot  tell. 
I  don't  know,  unless  I  am  losing  my  mind,"  Millie  an- 
swered, shuddering. 

"Oh,  mother  !  "  the  girl  cried  with  apparent  anguish. 

"There  he  comes  again,"  the  woman  exclaimed.  "Why 
must  the  dream  torment  me  so?  No,"  she  continued,  "it 


ONLY  A  NEGRO.  213 

is  not  Harry.  My  fancy  is  too  wild.  No,  Harry  was  a 
sound  man.  This  is  a  poor  cripple.  Yet  it  is  Harry's  face, 
his  step  —  but  only  one  arm  !  He  is  near.  Marcia,  do 
you  see  a  man  coining  !  Who  is  he  ?  " 

A  tall,  muscular  form  strode  toward  them.  Before 
Marcia  answered,  he  stopped  and  raised  his  right  hand, 
the  only  remaining  one,  to  shade  his  eyes,  while  he 
stared  at  the  woman  and  her  daughter. 

"It  is  Millie,"  he  muttered.  "Millie!  Marcia!"  he 
cried. 

Millie  sprang  suddenly  up,  forgetting  her  weight  of  sor- 
row. Some  of  the  old  beanty  returned  to  her  face  as  she 
threw  herself  upon  her  husband's  neck. 

"Is  this  only  a  dream?"  she  cried.  "Must  I  wake  to 
regret  this  again?  Are  you  really  come,  Harry?  But 
where  is  your  arm?  It  is  off  at  the  elbow." 

"That  is  half  the  price  of  my  liberty,"  he  said. 

"How  did  you  do  it,  papa?  "  asked  Marcia. 

"A  gun-shot  did  it,"  he  replied.  Looking  into  his  wife's 
face,  he  continued :  "There  was  war  all  around  me.  And 
when  I  heard  of  you  and  Marcia  here  in  Kansas,  needing 
me  every  day  to  protect  you,  it  was  easy  to  make  up  my 
mind  to  do  it.  Almost  before  I  knew  it,  it  was  done.  I 
was  worthless  to  Master,  then,  and  he  would  soon  no  doubt 
have  been  glad  to  get  rid  of  feeding  me  by  giving  me  free- 
dom. But  I  could  n't  wait,  and  I  have  brought  a  hundred 
dollars  back  with  me." 

He  had  shot  his  arm  off  with  his  master's  musket,  in 
order  to  buy  his  freedom  —  not  just  because  he  desired  to 
be  free,  but  because  Millie  and  his  little  daughter  needed 
him.  Heroic  soul !  that  was  more  than  to  die  for  them  ; 
it  .was  to  suffer  for  them.  CARL 


COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 


TELL  ME,  YE  KANSAS  WINDS. 

Tell  me,  ye  Kansas  winds, 

That  round  ray  pathway  blow, 
Is  there  nowhere  a  spot 

Where  mortal  man  may  go  — 
No  island  in  the  sea, 

No  quiet  foreign  clime, 
Where  spring-time  comes  without 

The  dire  house-cleaning  time  ? 
A  cyclone  struck  me  with  terrific  blow, 
And  hurled  me  forty  rods,  as  it  responded,  "No." 

Oh,  gentle  birds  that  wing 

Far  to  the  south  your  flight, 
Do  you  not  know  some  land 

Of  loveliness  and  light, 
Where  beds  are  never  sunned, 

And  carpets  are  not  "beat," 
Where  "stretchers"  are  not  known, 

And  tacks  don't  prick  your  feet? 
A  large  dark  bird  then  flew  off  with  a  "Caw," 
And  answered  with  a  gruff,  disdainful  "Naw." 

And  thou,  resplendent  moon, 

Pale  Empress  of  the  night, 
In  whose  mellifluous  beams 

All  lovers  take  delight, 
Do  you  not  know  a  place, 

Some  country  east  or  west, 


DON'T  WAKEN  THE  BABY.  215 

Where  from  house-cleaning,  man, 

Poor  man,  can  get  a  rest? 

The  moon  then  paler  grew,  and  answered  slow, 
As  from  behind  a  cloud  it  whispered,  ".No." 

Oh,  sweetener  of  my  joys, 

My  other,  better  self, 
Thou  who  hast  sworn  to  share, 

My  poverty  or  pelf, 
Do  you  not  know  some  spot, 

On  seen  or  unseen  shore, 
Where  these  house-cleaning  days 

Shall  come  again  no  more? 
"Yes,  yes,"  she  said,  "these  tacks  here  must  be 

driven. 
You'll   find    that  place    sometime  —  perhaps — in 

heaven-"  J.  M.  CAVANESS. 


DON'T  WAKEN  THE  BABY. 

(  NOTE.— The  following  lines  were  formed  in  my  mind  when  looking  at  a  picture  on 
a  writing-tablet  cover  — a  baby  asleep  in  a  hammock  — its  hand  hanging  over  the  side, 
and  a  playful  kitten  catching  at  the  little  hand.  High  up  in  the  tree  overhead  a  bird 
says,  "My  Sweetest  Song  I've  been  Singing.") 

My  sweetest  song  I  've  been  singing 

To  the  baby  under  the  tree, 
And  the  winds'  soft  hands  have  been  swinging 

And  rocking  her  cradle  for  me. 

And  kitty,  now  you  have  come  creeping, 

In  your  sly  and  treacherous  way, 
To  waken  and  set  her  a-weeping 

For  Jie  dreams  you  are  driving  away. 


216          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

O  kitty,  do  n't  waken  the  baby, 

Let  her  wander  in  dreamland  away ; 

For  a  time  is  coming  when  may  be 
She  will  not  dream  as  to-day  ; 

When  trouble  will  sorely  perplex  her, 

And  the  little  demons  of  care 
Her  pillow  will  haunt,  and  will  vex  her 

And  sprinkle  the  snow  in  her  hair. 

Then  kitty,  do  n't  waken  the  baby, 

Let  her  slumber  in  peace  while  she  may ; 

For  a  time  is  coming  when  may  be 
She  will  not  sleep  as  to-day. 

MES.  S.  N.  WOOD. 


MY  AMBITION. 

I  have  my  own  ambition.     It  is  not 

To  mount  on  eagles'  wings  and  soar  away 

Beyond  the  palings  of  the  common  lot, 

Scorning  the  griefs  and  joys  of  every  day; 

I  would  be  human,  toiling  like  the  rest, 

With  tender,  human  heart-beats  in  my  breast. 

Not  on  cold,  lonely  heights,  above  the  ken 
Of  common  mortals,  would  I  build  my  fame, 

But  in  the  kindly  hearts  of  living  men. 

There,  if  permitted,  would  I  write  my  name ; 

Who  builds  above  the  clouds  must  dwell  alone - 
I  count  good-fellowship  above  a  throne. 


CHILDHOOD.  217 

And  so  beside  my  door  I  sit  and  sing 

My  simple  strains,  now  sad,  now  light  and  gay ; 

Happy  if  this  or  that  but  wake  one  string 

Whose  low,  sweet  echoes  give  me  back  the  lay ; 

And  happier  still  if,  girded  by  my  song, 

Some  strained  and  tempted  soul  stands  firm  and 
strong. 

Humanity  is  much  the  same ;  if  I 

Can  give  my  neighbor's  pent-up  tliowght  a  tongue, 
And  can  give  voice  to  his  unspoken  cry 

Of  bitter  pain,  when  my  own  heart  is  wrung, 
Then  we  two  meet  upon  a  common  land, 

And  henceforth  stand  together,  hand  in  hand. 

I  send  my  thought  its  kindred  thought  to  greet, 
Out  to  the  far  frontier,  through  crowded  town. 

Friendship  is  precious,  sympathy  is  sweet ; 
So  these  be  mine  I  ask  no  laurel  crown. 

Such  my  ambition,  which  I  here  unfold ; 
So  it  be  granted,  mine  is  wealth  untold. 

MRS.  ALLERTON. 


CHILDHOOD. 

It  passed  in  beauty, 

Like  the  waves  that  reach 
Their  jeweled  fingers 

Up  the  sanded  beach, 


218  A    COLLECTION  FROM   KAXSAS  AUTHORS. 

It  passed  in  beauty, 

Like  the  flowers  that  spring 

Behind  the  footsteps 
Of  the  Winter  King. 

It  passed  in  beauty, 

Like  the  clouds  on  high, 
That  drape  the  ceilings 

Of  a  summer  sky. 

J  IKONQUILL. 


PILGRIM  BARD. 

To  whom  the  green  sward  is  like  bed  of  down, 
With  no  pavilion  save  the  starlit  sky, 

Upon  whose  locks  the  evening  dews  have  shown  ; 

Who  often  slept  among  the  wilds  alone, 
The  while  the  coyotes  sing  his  lullaby. 

Gladly  would  I  backward  turn  Time's  mystic  wheel, 
And  make  this  land  again  a  desert  wild ; 

I  care  not  what  the  future  may  reveal ; 

But  memories  of  the  past  will  o'er  me  steal  — 

Again  I  would  be  nature's  reckless  child. 

SCOTT  CUMMINS. 


TO-DAY. 

Work  on,  work  on  — 

Work  wears  the  world  away ; 
Hope  when  to-morrow  comes, 

But  work  to-day. 


"OLD  JIM."  219 

Work  on,  work  on  — 

Work  brings  its  own  relief; 
He  who  most  idle  is 

Has  most  grief. 


"OLD  JIM." 

A    TRUE    STORY    FOR    BOYS. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  12th  of  April,  1860,  on 
Cedar  creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Cottonwood  river,  in  the 
southeastern  portion  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas,  might 
have  been  seen  a  small  boy  scampering  as  fast  as  his  short 
legs  would  carry  him  toward  a  log  cabin  that  stood  in  the 
bend  of  the  creek,  under  the  protecting  branches  of  a  large 
leaning  black  walnut  tree. 

Was  he  running  to  tell  of  the  approach  of  a  hostile  band 
of  Indians,  or  that  a  herd  of  buffaloes  or  a  flock  of  wild 
turkeys  were  in  sight  ? 

No ;  Indian  scares  were  frequent,  and  buffaloes  and  wild 
turkeys  were  seen  so  often  as  to  scarcely  cause  remark. 

This  curly-headed  boy,  whom  we  will  call  Dick  —  be- 
cause that  was  not  his  real  name  —  was  the  bearer  of  far 
more  interesting  news,  and  arriving  at  the  cabin  with  eyes 
wide  open  and  cheeks  aglow,  he  breathlessly  announced, 
"Old  Fanny  has  a  colt!" 

What  attraction  had  the  partially  finished  breakfast  of 
corn  brea.d  and  buffalo  steak  for  the  three  other  juvenile 
members  of  the  family?  All  rushed  pell-mell  to  see  the 
wonder,  with  father  and  mother  more  leisurely  bringing  up 
the  rear. 


220          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Sure  enough,  there  stood  old  Fanny,  the  family  horse, 
quietly  cropping  the  grass,  and  anon  turning  her  head  to 
look  fondly  at  the  wonder  —  a  mealy-nosed,  sleek,  long- 
legged  bay  colt. 

Many  were  the  encomiums  passed  by  the  children  on  his 
bright  eyes,  sleek  coat,  and  curly  mane  and  tail. 

I  doubt  whether  Stanley,  with  his  three  hundred  fol- 
lowers, made  a  more  thoroughly  beaten  path  through  the 
jungles  of  Africa  than  was  made  by  the  children  from  the 
cabin  to  the  little  inclosure  during  the  three  ensuing  days. 

The  colt  was  named  "Jim"  by  Dick;  and  brother  and 
sisters,  father  and  mother,  and  even  old  Fanny,  seemed  to 
acquiesce  in  the  decision. 

Jim  received  his  christening  the  third  day  after  his  birth 
in  this  wise :  He  had  learned  to  exercise  his  long  legs  by 
running  in  a  circle  around  his  mother,  daily  enlarging  it, 
as  his  strength  and  speed  increased.  Notwithstanding  the 
admonitory  whinnyings  of  old  Fanny  and  the  earnest 
solicitations  of  Dick,  he  would  run  dangerously  near  the 
creek  bank,  till,  alas !  an  unlucky  turn  sent  him  rolling 
over  a  twenty-foot  bank  into  the  creek. 

Simultaneously  fell  all  that  seemed  worth  having  to  the 
boy  Dick. 

To  run  to  the  cabin,  report  the  catastrophe,  and  return 
with  the  whole  family  to  the  rescue,  was  the  work  of  a 
few  moments.  Dick  peered  over  the  bank  and  saw  Jim, 
with  ears  laid  back,  and  his  body  almost  submerged  in 
the  water,  clinging  to  a  shallow  slope.  Father  descended 
with  rope  in  hand,  and  secured  it  around  the  cost's  body, 
and,  with  the  assistance  of  all  hands,  pulled  him  up,  and 
Dick's  pride  lay  meekly  stretched  on  the  grass  to  dry. 
Rubbed  over,  laughed  over  and  cried  over  betimes,  he 


"OLD  JIM."  221 

was  soon  on  his  feet,  and  as  ready  for  another  race  —  but 
not  near  that  bank.  Colts,  like  boys,  must  sometimes 
learn  from  bitter  experience. 

This  year  came  the  excessive  drouth  and  "festive" 
grasshoppers  to  destroy  the  crops.  The  grass  which  the 
year  before  would  hide  Dick  from  view  while  sitting  on 
the  back  of  old  Fanny,  was  so  short  that  it  could  not  be 
cut  with  a  scythe.  As  a  consequence,  Jim  and  his  mother 
had  to  live  through  that  severe  winter  of  cold  and  snow, 
on  buds  of  trees,  called  "browse,"  which  Dick  and  his 
father  cut  down  so  the  horses  and  cattle  could  get  at 
them. 

When  Jim  became  a  full-grown  horse,  with  muscles  of 
iron,  sinews  of  whalebone,  and  a  constitution  that  nothing 
seemed  to  impair  or  fatigue,  old  men  would  say,  with  a 
knowing  shake  of  the  head,  "It  is  because  he  was  not 
pampered  while  young."  V; 

When  Jim  was  a  year  and  a  half  old,  Old  Fanny's  mate 
died,  and  Jim  was  hitched  with  his  mother  to  draw  pump- 
kins, corn  and  hay ;  when  two,  he  helped  to  do  the  spring 
plowing,  and  in  the  fall,  Dick,  with  a  pair  of  revolvers, 
made  his  first  run  after  buffaloes,  bringing  down  three 
before  he  stopped. 

Though  scarcely  three  years  old,  he  was  known,  far  and 
near,  as  "Old  Jim,"  and  whether  running  races  against 
the  ponies  of  friendly  Indians,  pulling  loads  of  corn  to 
distant  points  on  the  overland  Santa  Fe  route,  returning 
through  snow-drifts  with  a  load  of  buffalo  meat,  or,  by  his 
speed  and  endurance,  saving  Dick's  curly  head  from  the 
Indian's  scalping-knife,  "Old  Jim's"  mealy  nose  always 
came  out  in  the  lead. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  Old  Jim  became  an  expert  swim- 


222          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

rner,  since  his  practice  commenced  at  the  age  of  three  days. 
Before  the  close  of  the  first  summer  of  his  life  Dick 
taught  him  to  have  no  fear  of  water,  by  at  first  leading 
him  beyond  his  depth  and  compelling  him  to  swim  out ; 
and  later,  while  hunting  cows,  swimming  old  Fanny  across 
the  creek  at  every  opportunity,  and  of  course  Jim  would 
follow.  In  those  days  people  often  had  to  go  fifteen  or 
twenty  miles  after  their  mail,  the  person  going  bringing 
the  mail  for  the  whole  neighborhood.  Dick  and  Old  Jim 
made  t*his  journey  when  streams  were  high.  In  swimming 
the  first  stream  on  the  return  trip  Jim  missed  his  footing 
in  entering  the  creek,  and  horse,  rider  and  mail  went 
topsy-turvy  into  the  water.  After  landing  on  the  oppo- 
site side,  Dick  informed  Old  Jim  that  as  he  was  to  blame 
for  the  present  moist  condition  of  the  three  —  the  horse, 
the  rider,  and  the  mail  —  he  should  swim  every  ravine  and 
creek  between  that  place  and  home,  and  they  did.  Pay- 
ing no  regard  to  roads,  banks,  or  crossings,  they  made  a 
direct  line  for  home,  arriving  much  sooner  than  they 
would  —  Old  Jim  suffering  not  a  whit.  But  the  sad 
plight  of  Dick  and  the  mail !  It  took  much  turning  and 
drying  by  the  large  chimney-fire  to  make  Dick  comfort- 
able and  to  get  the  letters  and  papers  in  a  readable 
condition. 

Would  you  like  to  hear  of  Old  Jim's  and  Dick's  race 
with  the  Indians  ? 

Well,  it  happened  in  this  wise  :  When  Jim  was  five  years 
old  and  Dick  was  fourteen,  he  rode  Jim  up  the  valley  in 
search  of  some  ponies  that  had  strayed  or  been  stolen  by 
Indians. 

The  Indians  were  known  to  be  hostile,  and  were  reported 
near.  Dick,  seated  on  faithful  Old  Jim,  with  a  navy  re- 


"OLD  JSM."  223 

volver  under  each  elbow,  felt  quite  bold,  and  a  match  for 
three  or  four  Indians  at  the  least ;  but  he  felt  quite  differ- 
ently after  a  fruitless  search  of  several  hours,  when  within 
three  miles  of  home  he  observed,  a  few  miles  south,  a 
band  of  twenty  savages,  five  or  six  of  whom  started  to  cut 
off  his  retreat  toward  the  house.  Dick  was  scared  —  there 
was  no  gainsaying  that !  Though  he  was  well  armed,  and 
could  shoot  as  well  as  the  Indians  of  the  plains,  he  now 
realized  that  he  was  not  a  match  for  a  half-dozen  red-skins. 
But  his  confidence  in  the  speed  and  endurance  of  Old  Jim 
was  unbounded,  and  these  he  proceeded  to  put  to  the  test. 
As  Jim  began  to  feel  the  excitement  of  the  chase,  Dick 
prudently  held  him  with  a  steady  rein,  knowing  he  would 
need  the  horse's  best  efforts  at  the  last. 

Dick  has  the  farthest  to  go,  but  has  the  advantage  in 
knowing  by-paths  and  creek-crossings.  He  can  see  the 
Indians,  confident  now  of  a  scalp  to  adorn  their  belt,  rid- 
ing at  a  break-neck  gait,  whenever  he  or  the  Indians  cross 
over  an  eminence.  Dick  crosses  the  creek  for  the  last 
time,  half  a  mile  from  the  cabin,  and  now  has  to  cross  an 
open  prairie.  The  Indians  are  now  behind  the  hill.  With 
flying  mane  and  red  nostrils  spread,  Old  Jim  soon  covers 
the  distance,  and  dashes  up  to  the  cabin  just  as  the  Indians 
make  their  appearance  over  the  brow  of  the  hill. 

The  Indians  proved  to  be  a  band  of  roving  Kickapoos, 
who  had  been  on  a  thieving  expedition  into  the  Cherokee 
country,  and  whether  they  wished  to  murder  Dick  and 
steal  his  horse,  or  whether  they  did  it  to  frighten  him,  as 
was  their  custom  when  they  found  one  alone  on  the  prairies, 
will  never  be  known.  Certain  it  is,  however,  that  Dick 
yet  delights  to  tell  how,  when  a  boy,  Old  Jim  saved  his 
scalp ;  and  it  is  equally  certain  that  from  this  day  Jim  was 
more  than  ever  a  favorite  with  the  whole  family. 


224:  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Jim  was  faithful,  willing,  and  as  we  before  observed,  as 
"tough  as  a  knot."  Many  were  the  good  offers  in  ponies, 
cattle  and  hard  cash  for  him,  but  the  whole  family  were 
unanimous  in  the  conclusion  that  Old  Jim  was  a  perma- 
nent fixture  in  the  family,  and  should  remain  as  long  as  he 
lived.  But  alas  !  how  uncertain  are  we  to  carry  out  our 
best  resolutions. 

Jim  has  become  an  old  horse  — seventeen  —  Dick  a  man 
with  full  beard.  Poor  Old  Jim  was  again  put  to  the  test, 
but  to  fail,  and  the  pride  of  horse  and  master  humbled. 
After  an  absence  from  home  at  school  Dick  returned,  and, 
with  Old  Jim  and  his  mate  hitched  to  a  covered  wagon, 
started  with  several  others  on  a  buffalo  hunt,  south  of  the 
Chikaskia  river.  Buffalo  were  wild  and  scarce^  water  on 
the  prairies  plentiful ;  hence  the  buffalo  would  not  come  to 
the  creek  to  drink  where  the  hunter  lay  in  wait  to  shoot 
them.  Dick  decided  to  make  a  run  on  Old  Jim.  But, 
alas,  for  the  result !  Whether  because  of  the  increased 
weight  of  the  rider,  or  the  increased  age  of  Old  Jim,  or 
both,  they  failed  to  come  alongside  of  the  bison  as  of 
yore;  and,  during  the  exciting  chase,  Dick  inadvertently 
put  a  pistol  bullet  into  his  own  leg  instead  of  a  buffalo. 
An  hour  after,  they  came  into  camp,  Dick  looking  pale 
from  loss  of  blood,  and  Old  Jim  looking  tired  and  crest- 
fallen, and  seeming  to  say,  "I  did  my  best,  but  I  am  not 
so  young  and  spry  as  I  used  to  be." 

Time  passes.  Old  Jim  is  twenty-two.  Faithful  and  hon- 
est yet,  but  quite  feeble  at  times,  and  good  only  at  slow 
work.  With  age  he  has  learned  several  things  that  an  ob- 
servant horse  is  sure  to  do.  He  is  liable  to  slip  the  halter 
and  be  found  at  the  oat-bin.  He  has  learned  to  watch  for 
an  open  gate  into  the  orchard  or  stack-lot,  and  to  kick  up 


"  OLD  JIM.  "  225 

his  heels  defiantly  at  those  who  try  to  head  him  off.  He 
will  not  always  submit  to  being  caught  in  the  morning, 
but  toward  evening  he  will  come  to  the  gate  and  stand  for 
hours.  He  sometimes  concludes  that  small  boys  who  jerk 
the  reins  do  not  know  how  to  plow  corn,  and,  after  tramp- 
ing down  a  square  rod  of  corn,  will  come  to  the  house 
dragging  the  shovel -plow  in  spite  of  the  small  boy's 
tugging  at  the  lines. 

Should  you  with  a  small  switch  begin  to  chastise  him 
for  some  of  his  tricks  he  will  utter  the  most  heart-rending 
groans,  as  if  the  punishment  were  causing  excruciating  pain. 

Old  Jim  never  became  confused  nor  lost  his  way  after 
dark,  but  after  his  rider  had  given  up  and  concluded  to 
let  Jim  have  his  way,  notwithstanding  he  seemed  to  be 
going  the  opposite  direction  from  the  right  one,  he  in- 
variably came  out  at  the  right  place  —  home. 

Old  Jim  is  past  twenty-three  years  old.  Dick  has  left 
the  old  homestead,  and  Father  and  other  members  of  the 
family,  including  Old  Jim,  have  moved  to  the  village. 
No  broad  prairies,  nor  orchard-lot  containing  sweet  clover 
or  timothy  for  Old  Jim.  He  chafes  and  does  not  thrive 
under  this  village  treatment. 

The  drayman  has  offered  a  liberal  price  for  him,  but 
Dick's  father  pictures  Old  Jim  shivering  on  the  streets  of 
a  stormy  day,  or  struggling  with  a  load  too  heavy  for  his 
now  enfeebled  condition.  No ;  Jim  must  not  be  sold  to 
the  drayman  nor  turned  out  to  die,  since  he  has  served  so 
faithfully. 

But  friends  and  circumstances  at  last  prevail :  Old  Jim 
is  sold  to  a  kind  master  who  goes  to  the  Neosho  Valley 
to  gather  corn.  His  mealy  nose  is  turned  from  home  for 
the  last  time ;  with  ears  pricked  forward,  he  starts  for  the 


226          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

land  of  corn  and  clover  hay,  where,  let  us  hope,  he  lived 
several  years  and  died  among  friends  which  he  was  sure 
to  make  in  his  new  home. 

What  became  of  Dick  ?     Well,  excuse  me ;   my  story- 
was  of  Old  Jim.  T?    TT    T> 

r.   H.   U. 


QUOTATIONS. 

"Each  has  his  work  and  way, 
Each  has  his  part  and  play, 
Each  has  his  task  to  do. 

Both  of  the  good  and  true, 
Though  thou  art  grave  and  gay, 

Be  thou  yet  brave  and  true. 

"  Work  for  the  right  and  just, 
With  an  intrepid  trust ; 
Then  it  need  matter  thee 
Not  that  thou  buried  be, 
Either  on  land  or  strand, 
Either  'neath  soil  or  sea." 

—From  Ware's  "Child  of  Fate." 


"  It 's  the  duty  of  the  poet, 
It 's  the  duty  of  the  statesman, 

To  inspire  a  Nation's  life  with  noble  aims; 
And  dishonor  will  o'ershadow 
Him  who  dare  not,  or  who  falsely, 

His  immortal-fruited  mission  misproclaims." 

— From  Ware's  "Decoration  Day." 


QUOTATIONS.  227 

*4  To-day  our  choicest  colors  are  unfurled ; 
Soar  up,  proud  bird,  and  circle  'round  the  world, 
And  we  predict  that  nowhere  will  you  find 
A  place  like  Kansas  that  you  left  behind. 
He  who  has  lived  in  Kansas,  though  he  roam, 
Can  find  no  other  spot  and  call  it  '  Home.' ' 

— From  Ware's  "Corn  Poem" 


1  Hope's  idle  dreams  the  real  vainly  follows, 
Facts  stay  as  fadeless  as  the  Parthenon, 

While  fancies,  like  the  summer-tinted  swallows, 
Flit  gayly  'mid  its  arches  and  are  gone." 

-From  Ware's  "The  Real." 


•"  They  call  Kansas  the  Sunflower  State.  Not  because 
it  is  overrun  with  the  noxious  weed,  but  because  as  the 
sunflower  turns  on  its  stem  to  catch  the  first  beams  of  the 
morning  sun,  and  with  its  broad  disk  and  yellow  rays  fol- 
lows the  great  orb  of  day,  so  Kansas  turns  to  catch  the 
first  rays  of  every  advancing  thought,  or  civilized  agency, 
and  with  her  broad  prairies  and  golden  fields  welcomes 
and  follows  the  light."  —Charles  F.  Scott. 


"To  rest  as  well  as  labor 

God  made  both  brawn  and  brain, 
And  strongest  brain  and  muscle 

Endure  not  ceaseless  strain. 
Let  once  the  springs  be  broken,  •  * 

The  loss  is  great  indeed : 
Work,  then,  but  labor  wisely, 
And  thine  be  labor's  need." 

— Mrs.  Allerton. 


228  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

"AD    ASTRA    PER    ASPERA." 

"O'er  rugged  rocks  to  starry  skies, 
By  prickly  paths  to  thrones  on  high ; 
Through  grief  to  glory  —  is  the  cry." 

—  W.  H.  Bradbury* 


AL    FRISCO. 

"Grand  'Out-of-Doors,'  impartial  temple,  where 
No  elevated  stage  nor  seats  reserved 
Give  preference ;  open  and  free  alike  for  all, 
With  walls  thrown  down  and  roof  blown  off, 
Is  Nature's  panorama  here  unrolled." 

—  W.  H.  Bradbury. 


"Though  border  war  her  cities  overrun, 
Though  swarms  of  locusts  shade  the  summer  sun, 
No  matter  what  misfortunes  may  occur, 
The  State  goes  on  as  if  they  never  were. 
Cities  arise  where  towns  were  burned  before, 
The  prairies  sparkle  with  the  church  and  store, 
And  painted  harvesters,  fleet  after  fleet, 
Like  yachts,  career  through  seas  of  waving  wheat. " 

"When  other  orators,  in  other  verse, 
Far  better  days  in  better  ways  rehearse, 
When  other  crowds  composed  of  other  men, 

•  Shall  re-enact  the  present  scenes  again, 
May  they  be  able  then  to  say  that  she 
Is  all  that  we  have  wished  the  State  to  be." 

—  From  Ware's  "Corn  Poem.™ 


JfANSAS  SYMPOSIUM.  229 

"The  world  is  but  an  ocean  of  unrest, 
Whose  tidal  billows  wander  to  the  West. 
For  age  on  age  the  ancient  East  did  hold 
Unnumbered  people  and  uncounted  gold. 

"  Most  happy  Kansas  !  prosperous  and  free, 
She  rests  upon  the  margin  of  the  sea ; 
And  day  by  day  upon  her  shores  are  hurled 
The  tidal  billows  of  the  olden  world." 

— From  Ware's  ^  Short- Haired  Poet."1 


"As  the  strings  of  a  harp,  standing  side  by  side, 

Are  the  days  of  sadness  and  days  of  song ; 
The  sunshine  and  shadows  are  ever  allied, 
But  the  shadows  will  fade  and  the  sun  abide, 

Though  to-day  may  be  dim  and  the  world  go  wrong." 
—  From  Ware's  "Shadow" 


KANSAS  SYMPOSIUM. 

With  freedom's  barriers  broken  down — with  eye  of  faith 

grown  dim, 
Thou  wast  for  battling  cause  of  right  —  watchword  and 


synonym 


Again  —  in  nation's  darkest  hour — when  through  her  open 

gate 
The  trait'rous  host  came   rushing  out,  thou   pressed   in, 

true  State  ! 

By  night  a  pillared  cloud  of  fire,  by  day  a  shining  sun  ; 
"Ad  astra  per  aspera" — always  thou  leadest  on. 

— B.  W.  Woodward,  Lawrence. 


230  A  COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

Not  for  what  she  has  done  for  me, 

Though  it  be  great ; 
For  what  she  is,  her  majesty, 

I  love  my  state. 

— Thomas  Emmet  Dewey,  Abilene. 


The  most  remarkable  thing  about  Kansas,  from  '54  to 
'91,  has  been  its  courage  and  moral  leadership. 

— D.  W.  Wilder,  Hiawatha. 


Thine  is  the  land  where  the  swift-flying  shadows 

Wander  at  will  o'er  monotonous  plains ; 
Kiss  the  fresh  blossoms  that  spangle  the  meadows, 

And  sail  o'er  seas  of  voluptuous  grains. 
Dear  are  thy  childings  and  sweet  thy  caresses, 

Tender  thy  eyes  where  the  warm  love-light  broods  ; 
Bright  is  the  sunlight  amid  thy  soft  tresses, 

Loving  thy  heart,  but  inconstant  thy  moods. 

—  Ge<yi*ge  C.  Sperry,  Topeka. 


Kansas,  most  loved  of  Fortune's  guests, 

Child  of  our  hopes  and  fears  — 
Kansas,  whose  genius  ever  wrests 

Victory  from  Failure's  tears  — 
Thy  children  hail  thee  as  the  best, 

And  will  for  ceaseless  years. 

—  J.  W.  D.  Anderson,  Elk  City. 


I  have  known  Kansas  thirty -one  years,  as  a  Territory 
and  as  a  State,  in  war  and  in  peace,  in  famine  and  in 


KANSAS  SYMPOSIUM.  231 

plenty,  and  I  have  never  known  a  man  who  trusted  and 
believed  in  her,  and  in  evil  times  waited  and  hoped  for 
better,  who  was  disappointed  or  deceived.  Those  who 
have  known  Kansas  longest  love  her  most. 

—  Caroline  E.  Prentis,  Newton. 


Of  all  the  States,  but  three  shall  live  in  story : 
Old  Massachusetts  with  her  Plymouth  rock, 
And  old  Virginia  with  her  noble  stock, 
And  sunny  Kansas  with  her  woes  and  glory  — 
These  three  will  live  in  song  and  oratory, 
While  all  the  others  with  their  idle  claims 
Will  only  be  remembered  as  mere  names. 

— E.  F.  Ware,  Fort  Scott. 


AN   ACROSTIC. 

Kansas !   Fair  State,  we  well  may  claim 

A  meed  of  praise  for  thee ; 
None  other  boasts  so  great  a  fame, 

So  grand  a  history, 

As  through  oppressions,  strifes  and  wars 
She  soars  triumphant  to  the  stars. 

—Maggie  Kilmer,  Sedan. 


KANSAS    HEROES. 

Not  best  the  stretching  fields  of  golden  grain, 
The  harvest  plenitude  of  fertile  plain  ; 
'Twas  not  for  these  they  struck  the  effectual  blow 
That  broke  the  power  of  a  malignant  foe. 
Their  blood  for  Freedom  shed  must  consecrate 
To  human  Liberty  this  sovereign  State. 

—Allen  D.  Gray,  Topeka. 


232  A    COLLECTION -FROM  KANSAS  AUTHORS. 

KISMET. 

A  word  doth  make  our  destiny.     We  bravely  said 
Ad  Astra,  when  the  night  engulfed  our  martyred  dead  ; 
And  when  the  morning  flushed  the  pallid  eastern  sky, 
Our  chosen  character  was  registered  on  high. 

— Florence  L,  Snow,  Neosho  Falls. 


CRADLE    OF    FREEDOM. 

Men  said  —  a  noble  few  —  that  Kansas  soil 
Should  yield  its  fruitage  but  to  freemen's  toil ; 
And  Freedom,  cradled  here,  grown  great  and  strong, 
Rose  in  her  might  to  cope  with  ancient  wrong. 
"  Set  free  !  set  free  !  "  she  cried,  nor  stayed  her  hand 
Till  only  crime  wore  chains  in  all  the  land. 

— Ellen  P.  Allerton,  Padonia* 


KANSAS,  '56-'90. 
Drenched  with  impetuous  martyr  blood  she  stands 

A  nation's  pride  —  the  weeping  cynosure 
Of  all  the  world.     Deflowered  by  ruthless  hands, 
Defamed,  dishonored,  reft  of  all  that 's  pure, 
To  rise  a  spotless  monument,  at  last, 
For  all  the  future  and  to  all  the  past. 

— Albert  Bigelmo  Paine,  Fort  Scott*. 


THE    NATION  8    GARDEN. 

Its  arid  wastes  sir'     verdant  be; 

With  golden  harvests  shall  they  gleam. 
Its  verdant  plains  shall  peopled  be. 
The  nation's  garden  yet  shall  teem, 
Not  with  the  flower  of  chivalry, 
But  with  a  free  and  noble  yeomanry. 

—  Wm.  H.  Tibbals. 


KANSAS  SYMPOSIUM.  233 

The  wretched  slave  whose  galling  chains  the  gods 
Dared  not  to  break,  turned  in  his  mute  despair 
To  Kansas,  and  she  struck  for  him  a  blow 
That  swelled  into  a  universal  prayer, 
Till  o'er  the  tomb  of  slavery  rose  a  star 
Of  freedom,  shining  through  the  clouds  of  war  I 
—  Will  Lisenbee,  Cherokee. 


O  Kansas  !     Land  where  poets  sing 

Of  freedom,  health,  and  homes  of  peace ; 
Where  from  the  furrowed  acres  spring 
A  wealth  for  all  the  world's  increase  ; 

Where  honor,  worth  and  truth  are  prized, 
And  fondest  hopes  are  realized. 

— AL  M.  Hendee,  Kansas  City. 


Kansas  is  freedom's  birth-place,  glory's  pathway,  chiv- 
alry's temple,  the  home  of  patriotism.  A  land  whose 
boundless  plains  and  deathless  waters  have  witnessed  the 
dawn  of  fame.  -U&ie  B.  Hamrick. 


Kansas,  how  sublime  thy  story, 
Crowning  of  a  nation's  glory, 
First  in  all  our  hearts  forever. 
First  the  slave's  cnrs'd  bonds  to  sever, 
With  thy  temperance  banner  o'er  us, 
Bright  the  future's  sheen  before  us. 

— Laura  E.  Newell,  Zeandale,  Kansas^ 


234          A    COLLECTION  FROM  KANSAS   AUTHORS. 
ABOVE    CRITICISM. 

My  love,  much  praised,  much  blamed,  grows  moody  quite, 

The  good  words  fail  to  drive  away  the  ill ; 
But  Kansas,  blessed,  maligned,  shows  no  affright, 
Instead,  moves  nobly  on,  unruffled  still  — 
Serenely  sure,  unminding  wreaths  of  scars, 
Firm-stepped,  she  mounts  her  pathway  to  the  stars. 
—  Chas.  Moreau  Harger,  Abilene. 


Kansas,  like  thy  favorite  flower, 
Has  thy  race,  thus  far,  been  run ; 

Morning,  evening,  finds  thee  facing 
Towards  the  right's  progressive  sun. 

—  Sol.  T.  Long,  Grenola. 


Kansas  is  the  nation's  political  experiment  farm.  Ke- 
iorins  admitted  to  be  desirable,  but  of  doubtful  practica- 
bility, are  first  tried  in  Kansas.  If  they  fail  here  the  experi- 
ment is  carried  no  farther.  ~,  ^  0  T  7 

—  Chas.  F.  Scott,  lola. 


KANSAS    SKIES. 

If  Grecian  skies  inspired  Grecian  bards  to  sing 
The  melodies  that  still  adown  the  ages  ring  — 
If  skies  inspire,  ye  Kansas  Bards,  lift  up  your  eyes ; 
How  rare  must  be  the  verse  to  match  the  Kansas  skies- 
— Ida  A.  Ahlb&rn,  Baldwin. 


When  Freedom's  banner  is  unfurled, 

No  star  among  its  folds  of  blue 
Shines  forth  to  Nations  far  and  wide 

With  luster  brighter,  with  beams  more  true ; 


XAA/SAS  SYMPOSIUM.  235- 

Tho'  oft  mid  clouds  'tis  hidden  quite  — 
It  rises  ever  for  the  right. 

— Ida  Capen  Fleming,  El  Dorado. 


As  knight  of  old,  alone,  before  the  fray, 
Rode  out  to  meet  his  boldest  foe  midway, 

Met,  strove  and  conquered  in  the  army's  sight, 
And  came  with  trophy  worthy  of  the  tight  — 

So  thou,  my  State,  return,  thy  Leader  greet, 
And  lay  a  broken  wine-glass  at  his  feet 

— Hattie  Horner,  Whiteicater, 


Child  of  the  grassy  plain, 

Facing  the  day, 
Blooming  in  sun  or  rain, 

Evermore  gay, 
Coming  the  first  to  bless, 

Wide-spreading  wilderness, 
Flaunting  and  free ; 

Coming  in  power, 
Kansas  is  like  to  thee, 

Sunflower.  -Noble  L.  Prentis. 


I  love  thee,  Home-land,  when  I  pass 

In  western  wilds,  through  wind-tossed  grass  ; 

And  yet  more  dearly  when  I  spy 

Thy  rosy  children,  romping  by  ; 

But  yet  of  all  I  count  this  best  — 
Thy  moral  honor,  east  and  west. 

— Mrs.  L.  E.  Thrope,  Topeka. 


PART  III. 

MISCELLANEOUS 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


KANSAS. 

There  were  no  white  inhabitants  of  Kansas  in  1850. 
In  1856  there  were  less  than  10,000.  In  1860  there  were 
107,000.  In  1861  she  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  In 
1880  there  were  996,000  inhabitants  within  her  borders. 
In  1890  there  were  probably  not  less  than  two  millions. 
From  the  Missouri  State  line  on  the  east  to  the  Colorado 
line  on  the  west,  from  the  37th  to  the  40th  degrees  of 
north  latitude,  the  land  is  filled  with  a  happy  and  a  pros- 
perous and  a  virtuous  people.  There  is  a  church  in  every 
hamlet,  a  school-house  on  every  hillock,  and  the  golden, 
tangled  maize  waves  its  amber  locks  in  the  summer  breezes, 
where  the  buffalo  wallowed  and  the  coyote  drank.  The 
crack  of  the  hunter's  rifle  has  given  place  to  the  chime  of 
the  church-bell,  and  the  smoke  from  half  a  million  happy 
firesides  has  replaced  the  solitary  trapper's  fire.  Where 
the  Indian  scalped  his  enemy  the  clergyman  preaches 
Christ,  and  the  war-dance  of  the  aborigines  has  retired  be- 
fore the  communion  table  of  the  Christian.  Where  the 
beaver  built  his  dam  the  saw  and  grist  mill  now  stand, 
and  populous  cities,  rich  in  all  the  fruits  of  the  nineteenth 
century  civilization,  occupy  the  former  sites  of  the  prairie- 
dog  villages. 

Westward  the  star  of  empire  has  indeed  taken  its  way, 
and  its  brightest  beams  are  thrown  with  most  effulgent 
splendor  over  the  magnificent  area  of  Kansas. 

—  National  Tribune. 

(239) 


240  MISCELLANEOUS. 


LE   MARAIS   DU    CYGNE. 

A  blush  as  of  roses 

Where  rose  never  grew  ! 
Great  drops  on  the  bunch-grass, 

But  not  of  the  dew  ! 
A  taint  in  the  sweet  air 

For  wild  bees  to  shun  ! 
A  stain  that  shall  never 

Bleach  out  in  the  sun  ! 

Back,  steed  of  the  prairies  ! 

Sweet  song-bird,  fly  back  ! 
Wheel  hither,  bald  vulture  ! 

Gray  wolf,  call  thy  pack  ! 
The  foul  human  vultures 

Have  feasted  and  fled ; 
The  wolves  of  the  Border 

Have  crept  from  the  dead. 

In  the  homes  of  their  rearing, 

Yet  warm  with  their  lives, 
Ye  wait  the  dead  only, 

Poor  children  and  wives  ! 
Put  out  the  red  forge-fire, 

The  smith  shall  not  come ; 
Unyoke  the  brown  oxen, 

The  plowman  lies  dumb. 

Wind  slow  from  the  Swan's  Marsh, 

O  dreary  death-train, 
With  pressed  lips  as  bloodless 

As  lips  of  the  slain  ! 


LE  MARA1S  DU  CYGNE.  241 

Kiss  down  the  young  eyelids, 

Smooth  down  the  gray  hairs ; 
Let  tears  quench  the  curses 

That  burn  through  your  prayers. 

From  the  hearths  of  their  cabins, 

The  fields  of  their  corn, 
Unwarned  and  unweaponed, 

The  victims  were  torn  — 
By  the  whirlwind  of  murder 

Swooped  up  and  swept  on 
To  the  low,  reedy  fen-lands, 

The  Marsh  of  the  Swan. 

With  a  vain  plea  for  mercy 

No  stout  knee  was  crooked ; 
In  the  mouths  of  the  rifles 

Right  manly  they  looked. 
How  paled  the  May  sunshine, 

Green  Marais  du  Cygne, 
When  the  death-smoke  blew  over 

Thy  lonely  ravine  1 

Strong  man  of  the  prairies, 

Mourn  bitter  and  wild  ! 
Wail,  desolate  woman  ! 

Weep,  fatherless  child  ! 
But  the  grain  of  God  springs  up 

From  ashes  beneath, 
And  the  crown  of  His  harvest 

Is  life  out  of  death. 


242  MISCELLANEOUS. 

Not  in  vain  on  the  dial 

The  shade  moves  along 
To  point  the  great  contrasts 

Of  right  and  of  wrong  ; 
Free  homes  and  free  altars 

And  fields  of  ripe  food  ; 
The  reeds  of  the  Swan's  Marsh, 

Whose  bloom  is  of  blood. 

On  the  lintels  of  Kansas 

That  blood  shall  not  dry ; 
Henceforth  the  Bad  Angel 

Shall  harmless  go  by ; 
Henceforth  to  the  sunset, 

Unchecked  on  her  way, 
Shall  Liberty  follow 

The  march  of  the  day. 

JOHN  G.  WHITTIEB. 


THE  BURIAL  OF  BARBER. 

Frozen  earth  to  frozen  breast, 
Lay  your  slain  one  down  to  rest ; 

Lay  him  down  in  hope  and  faith  ; 
And  above  the  broken  sod, 
Once  again  to  Freedom's  God 

Pledge  yourselves  for  life  or  death - 

That  the  State  whose  walls  ye  lay, 
In  your  blood  and  tears  to-day, 

Shall  be  free  from  bonds  of  shame, 


THE  KANSAS  EMIGRANT'S  SONG.  243 

And  your  goodly  land  untrod 
By  the  feet  of  slavery,  shod 
With  cursing  as  with  flame. 

Plant  the  buckeye  on  his  grave, 
For  the  hunter  of  the  slave 

In  its  shadows  cannot  rest ; 
And  let  martyr  mound  and  tree 
Be  your  pledge  and  guarantee 

Of  the  freedom  of  the  West. 

WHITTIEE. 


THE  KANSAS  EMIGKANT'S  SONG. 

TTJNE —  "Auld  Lanq  Syne." 

(NOTE. — This  poem  was  printed  in  the  first  issue  of  the  Herald  of  Freedom,  one  of 
the  first  Free-State  papers  printed  in  Kansas,  under  date  of  October  21st,  1854. ) 

We  cross  the  prairies  as  of  old 

The  pilgrims  crossed  the  sea, 
To  make  the  West,  as  they  the  East, 

The  homestead  of  the  free. 

CHORUS  : 
The  homestead  of  the  free,  my  boys, 

The  homestead  of  the  free ; 
To  make  the  West,  as  they  the  East, 

The  homestead  of  the  free. 

We  go  to  rear  a  wall  of  men 

On  Freedom's  Southern  line, 
And  plant  beside  the  cotton  tree 

The  rugged  Northern  pine! 
Chorus. 


244  MISCELLANEOUS. 

We  're  flowing  from  our  native  hills, 

As  our  free  rivers  flow  ; 
The  blessing  of  our  mother-land 

Is  on  us  as  we  go. 

Chorus. 

We  go  to  plant  her  common  schools 

On  distant  prairie  swells, 
And  give  the  Sabbaths  of  the  wild 

The  music  of  her  bells. 
Chorus. 

Upoearing,  like  the  ark  of  old, 

The  Bible  in  our  van, 
We  go  to  test  the  truth  of  God 

Against  the  fraud  of  man. 
Chorus. 

No  pause,  nor  rest,  save  where  the  streams 

That  feed  the  Kansas  run, 
Save  where  our  pilgrim  gonfalon 

Shall  flout  the  setting  sun. 
Chorus. 

We  '11  sweep  the  prairies  as  of  old 

Our  fathers  swept  the  sea, 
And  make  the  West,  as  they  the  East, 

The  homestead  of  the  free. 

Chorus. 

WHITTIBE. 


T  DID.  245 


K  T  DID. 

(AN    EAELY    POEM.) 

From  her  borders  far  away, 
Kansas  blows  a  trumpet  call, 
Answered  by  the  loud  "Hurrah  !  " 
Of  her  troopers  one  and  all, 
Knife  and  pistol,  sword  and  spur. 

Cries  KT- 

"Let  my  troopers  all  concur, 
To  the  old  flag  no  demur  — 

Follow  me  !  " 

Hence  the  song  of  jubilee  ; 
Platy  Phillis  from  the  tree, 
High  among  the  branches  hid, 
Sings  all  night  merrily, 

KTdid 
She  did  —  she  did. 

Thirty  score  Jayhawkers  bold, 
Kansas  men  of  strong  renown, 
Rally  round  the  banner  old, 
Casting  each  his  gauntlet  down. 
"  Good  for  Kansas  !  "  one  and  all 

Cry  to  her; 

Riding  to  her  trumpet  call, 
Blithe  as  to  a  festival, 

All  concur. 

Hence  the  revel  and  the  glee, 
As  the  chanter  from  the  tree, 


246  MISCELLANEOUS. 

High  among  the  branches  hid, 
Sings  all  night  so  merrily, 

K  T  did, 
She  did  —  she  did. 

— From  N.  Y.  Vanity  Fair. 


PROPHETIC  WORDS  OF  SUMNER, 
ON  THE  PASSAGE  ©F  THE  KANSAS  AND  NEBRASKA  BILL. 

"  In  passing  this  bill  as  it  is  now  threatened,  yon  scatter 
from  this  dark  midnight  hour  no  seeds  of  harmony  and 
good-will,  but  broadcast  through  the  land  dragon Vteeth 
which  haply  may  spring  up  in  direful  crops  of  armed  men  ; 
but  yet  I  am  assured,  sir,  they  will  fructify  in  civil  strife 
and  feud.  Sir,  the  bill  which  you  are  about  to  pass  is  at 
once  the  worst  and  the  best  bill  on  which  Congress  ever 
acted. 

"It  is  the  worst  bill,  inasmuch  as  it  is  a  present  victory 
for  Slavery.  Sir,  it  is  the  best  bill  on  which  Congress  ever 
acted,  for  it  annuls  all  compromises  with  Slavery,  and 
makes  all  future  compromises  impossible.  Thus  it  puts 
Freedom  and  Slavery  face  to  face,  and  bids  them  grapple. 
Who  can  doubt  the  result  ?  Thus,  sir,  now  standing  at 
the  very  grave  of  Freedom  in  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  I 
lift  myself  to  that  happy  resurrection  by  which  Freedom 
will  be  secured,  not  only  in  these  Territories,  but  every- 
where under  the  National  Government.  Sorrowfully  I 
bend  before  the  wrong  which  you  are  about  to  commit. 
Joyfully  I  welcome  all  the  promises  of  the  future." 


EMERSON  ON  KANSAS.  247 


WOKDS  OF  WARREN  WILKES,  OF  SOUTH 
CAROLINA, 

ON  THE  KANSAS  AND  NEBRASKA  BILL. 

"By  consent  of  parties,  the  present  contest  in  Kansas  is 
made  the  turning-point  in  the  destinies  of  Slavery  and 
Abolitionism.  If  the  South  triumphs,  Abolitionism  will 
be  defeated  and  shorn  of  its  power  for  all  time.  If  she  is 
defeated,  Abolitionism  will  grow  more  insolent  and  ag- 
gressive, until  the  utter  ruin  of  the  South  is  consummated. 
If  the  South  secures  Kansas,  she  will  extend  slavery  into 
all  the  territory  south  of  the  40th  parallel  of  north  latitude 
to  the  Rio  Grande ;  and  this,  of  course,  will  secure  for  her 
pent-up  institution  of  Slavery  an  ample  outlet,  and  restore 
her  power  in  Congress.  If  the  North  secures  Kansas,  the 
power  of  the  South  in  Congress  will  be  gradually  dimin- 
ished. The  States  of  Missouri,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Ar- 
kansas, and  Texas,  together  with  the  adjacent  Territories, 
will  gradually  become  Abolitionized,  and  the  slave  popu- 
lation confined  to  the  States  east  of  the  Mississippi  will 
become  valueless.  All  depends  on  the  action  of  the  present 
movement" 


EMERSON  ON  KANSAS. 

"Kings  shook  with  fear. 
Old  empires  crave  the  secret  force  to  find 

Which  fired  the  little  State, 
To  save  the  rights  of  all  mankind. 


248  MISCELLANEOUS. 

Let  the  blood  of  her  hundred  thousand 
Throb  in  each  manly  vein, 

And  the  wit  of  all  her  wisest 
Make  sunshine  in  her  brain ; 

And  each  shall  care  for  other, 
And  each  to  each  shall  bend  — 

To  the  poor  a  noble  brother 
To  the  good  an  equal  friend." 


OKIGINAL  JOHN  BKOWN  SONG. 

(  "  George  Ropes  gives  the  Capital  the  real  origin  of  John  Brown  Song.  It  arose 
with  Major  Ralph  Newton's  'Tigers,'  the  second  battalion  Massachusetts  Volunteer 
Militia,  ordered  to  Fort  Warren,  in  Boston  Harbor,  in  April,  1861."— [Wilder's  An- 
nals.] We  insert  it  because  few  have  ever  seen  the  original  song. ) 

John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave; 
John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave ; 
John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave; 
His  soul  is  marching  on. 

CHORUS  : 

Glory,  glory,  Hallelujah ! 
Glory,  glory,  Hallelujah  ! 
Glory,  glory,  Hallelujah ! 
His  soul  is  marching  on. 

He  's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord ; 

He  's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord ; 

He  's  gone  to  be  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Lord  ;, 

His  soul  is  marching  on. 

Chorus. 


A  CALL   TO  KANSAS.  240 

John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back ; 
John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back ; 
John  Brown's  knapsack  is  strapped  upon  his  back ; 
His  soul  is  marching  on. 

Chorus. 

His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way ; 
His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way ; 
His  pet  lambs  will  meet  him  on  the  way, 
While  they  go  marching  on. 
Chorus. 

Now  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union  ; 
Now  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union  ; 
Now  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  Union, 
As  we  go  marching  on. 

Chorus. 


A  CALL  TO  KANSAS. 
TUNE  — ' '  Nelly  Ely. ' ' 

(In  February,  1855,  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Webb,  secretary  of  the  New  England  Emigrant 
Aid  Company,  offered  a  prize  of  $50  for  a  Kansas  song.  Eighty-nine  were  presented. 
The  prize  WBB  awarded  to  Lucy  Larcom,  for  "A  Call  to  Kansas.") 

Yeomen  strong,  hither  throng  ! 

Nature's  honest  men ; 
We  will  make  the  wilderness 

Bud  and  bloom  again. 
Bring  the  sickle,  speed  the  plow, 

Turn  the  ready  soil ! 
Freedom  is  the  noblest  pay 

For  the  true  man's  toil. 


250  MISCELLANEOUS. 

Ho,  brothers  !   come  brothers  ! 

Hasten  all  with  me  ; 
We  '11  sing  upon  the  Kansas  plains 

A  song  of  Liberty. 


Father,  haste  !     O'er  the  waste 

Lies  a  pleasant  land. 
There  your  fireside's  altar-stones, 

Fixed  in  truth,  shall  stand. 
There  your  sons,  brave  and  good, 

Shall  to  freemen  grow, 
Clad  in  triple  mail  of  right, 

Wrong  to  overthrow. 
Ho,  brothers  !   come,  brothers  ! 

Hasten  all  with  me ; 
We  '11  sing  upon  the  Kansas  plains 

A  song  of  Liberty  ! 


Mother,  come  !  here  's  a  home 

In  the  waiting  West ; 
Bring  the  seeds  of  love  and  peace, 

You  who  sow  them  best. 
Faithful  hearts,  holy  prayers, 

Keep  from  taint  the  air ; 
Soil  a  mother's  tears  have  wet 

Golden  crops  shall  bear. 
Come,  mother  !   fond  mother, 

List,  we  call  to  thee ; 
We  '11  sing  upon  the  Kansas  plains 

A  song  of  Liberty  ! 


A  CALL  TO  KANSAS.  251 

Brother  brave,  stem  the  wave  ! 

Firm  the  prairies  tread  ! 
Up  the  dark  Missouri  flood 

Be  your  canvas  spread. 
Sister  true,  join  us  too, 

Where  the  Kansas  flows ; 
Let  the  Northern  lily  bloom 

With  the  Southern  Rose. 
Brave  brother  !   true  sister  ! 

List,  we  call  to  thee ; 
We  '11  sing  upon  the  Kansas  plains 

A  song  of  Liberty ! 

One  and  all,  hear  our  call 

Echo  through  the  land  ! 
Aid  us  with  a  willing  heart 

And  the  strong  right  hand  ! 
Feed  the  spark  the  Pilgrims  struck 

On  old  Plymouth  rock  ! 
To  the  watch-fires  of 'the  free 

Millions  glad  shall  flock. 
Ho,  brother  !  come,  brother  ! 

Hasten,  all,  with  me ; 
We  '11  sing  upon  the  Kansas  plains 

A  song  of  Liberty. 


252  MISCELLANEOUS. 


POETIC  DESCRIPTION. 

(The  following  poetic  description  of  the  country  included  in  Kansas  Territory  as 
described  by  Longfellow,  is  found  in  F.  G.  Adams's  "Homestead  Guide,"  printed  in 
1873.  "  Here  is  given  to  the  Platte  its  other  designation,  the  Nebraska,  and  Fontaine- 
•qni-bout  is  spoken  of  as  the  principal  tributary  of  the  Arkansas." ) 

Far  in  the  West  there  lies  a  desert  land,  where  the  mount- 
ains 

Lift,  through  perpetual  snows,  their  lofty  and  luminous 
summits. 

Down  from  their  jagged,  deep  ravines,  where  the  gorge, 
like  a  gateway, 

Opens  a  passage  rude  to  the  wheels  of  the  emigrant's  wagon, 

Westward  the  Oregon  flows,  and  the  Walleway  and 
Owyhee ; 

Eastward,  with  devious  course,  among  the  Wind  river 
mountains, 

Through  the  Sweetwater  Valley  precipitate  leaps  the  Ne- 
braska ; 

And  to  the  south,  from  Fontaine-qui-bout  and  the  Spanish 
sierras ; 

Fretted  with  sands  and  rocks,  and  swept  by  the  wind  of 
the  desert, 

Numberless  torrents,  with  ceaseless  sound,  descend  to  the 
ocean, 

Like  the  great  chords  of  a  harp,  in  loud  and  solemn  vibra- 
tions. 

Spreading  between  these  streams  are  the  wondrous,  beauti- 
ful prairies, 

Billowy  bays  of  grass  ever  rolling  in  shadow  and  sunshine, 

Bright  with  luxuriant  clusters  of  roses  and  purple  amor- 
pluis. 


'POETIC  DESCRIPTION.  253 

Over  them  wander  the  buffalo  herds,  and  the  elk  and  the 
roebuck ; 

Over  them  wander  the  wolves,  and  herds  of  riderless  horses  ; 

Fires  that  blast  and  blight,  and  winds  that  are  weary  with 
travel ; 

Over  them  wander  the  scattered  tribes  of  Ishmael's  chil- 
dren, 

Staining  the  desert  with  blood  ;  and  above  their  terrible 
war  trails 

Circles  and  sails  aloft,  on  pinions  majestic,  the  vulture, 

Like  the  implacable  soul  of  a  chieftain  slaughtered  in  battle, 

By  invisible  stairs  ascending  and  scaling  the  heavens. 

Here  and  there  rise  smokes  from  the  camps  of  these  savage 
marauders ; 

Here  and  there  rise  groves  from  the  margins  of  swift- 
running  rivers ; 

And  the  grim,  taciturn  bear,  the  anchorite  monk  of  the 
desert, 

Climbs  down  their  dark  ravines  to  dig  for  roots  by  the 
brook-side, 

And  over  all  is  the  sky,  the  clear  and  crystalline  heaven, 

Like  the  prntprt''n<r  Ti«nr|  of  ftod  inverted  above  them. 


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